Estimated revenue is not achievable

The tentative FYE 2011 budget for Bonner County was published in the Daily Bee on Aug. 19, 2010.

Budget expenditures amounted to $55,666,649. Estimated revenue was stated at the same amount of $55,666,649 but if the “cash balance forward” portion of $4,467,335 is subtracted, then the actual estimated revenue reduces to $51,199,314. Is this deficit spending of $4,467,355? Ask the commissioner from your district.

Budget expenditures for FYE 2006 were $39,344,955. The current budget represents a five-percent increase of 41.5 percent. Budget expenditures for FYE 2010 were $47,423,908. The current budget represents a one-year increase of 17.4 percent.

The approved FYE 2011 budget includes a 2-percent increase for all nine elected officials. This represents salary increases from FYE 2006 of 172 percent for the coroner, 26 percent for the prosecutor, 19 percent for commissioners, clerk, assessor and treasurer, and five percent for the sheriff.

In my opinion, the estimated revenue for FYE 2011, which includes sales tax and fee revenues is overly generous and probably not achievable.

JOHN MARAS

Sandpoint