The Grays Harbor County commissioners approved a raceway contract extension Monday, allowed for a caretaker to continue serving the ORV park while the county finds a new promoter, transferred funding for a pending third courtroom project and received a budget update.

While the commissioners continue negotiations with Funtime Promotions, the promoter for Grays Harbor County Raceway in Elma, they extended the current contract by 30 days. Based on recommendations from county staff, the commissioners discussed possible changes to the contract including parking and security stipulations. Negotiations are ongoing.

Straddleline ORV Park in East County is without a promoter after Promoto LLC recently announced it would not seek a contract renewal. While the county looks for a new promoter, the commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with Scott McFate who will provide caretaker and security services. The agreement expires when a new promoter is contracted.

McFate provided caretaker and security services under Promoto LLC. McFate does not receive a salary but the county pays for water and electricity for his RV.

Third courtroom

The commissioners also transferred $300,000 from the cumulative reserve for construction fund. The $300,000 initially was part of funds from the sale of the Oakhurst sanatorium, and those funds were put in the reserve fund for the courtroom project. County budget director Brenda Sherman had recommended the commissioners move the funding into a fund dedicated to the courtroom project.

Last month, the county was notified that the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is recommending a grant of more than $300,000 to fund the third courtroom project. An initial grant of more than $322,000 was first recommended, followed by an additional grant of about $17,000 for additional funding. The grant still needs approval as part of the capital budget for the 2017-19 biennium.

The third courtroom project is part of a settlement to a lawsuit brought forward by the Grays Harbor County judges. Following discussions and a proposed, but ultimately rejected, courthouse complex project at more than $56 million, the commissioners and the third courtroom committee agreed to remodel the current law library at the courthouse into a third courtroom.

Commissioner and Chairwoman Vickie Raines said the funding would allow for the construction and renovation of not just a third courtroom to appease the lawsuit settlement, but also for a drug court. Additional funds have been earmarked to launch a drug court next year.

Both the third courtroom and drug court should be operational by the middle of 2017, Raines said.

Budget update

Sherman presented a 2016 general fund budget update during the morning meeting.

The budget update shows the county finishing 2016 with an operating deficit of $309,090. That projection includes information as of Sept. 30, and it assumes each department spends only 98 percent of its budget.

The county’s ending cash target is $4.22 million. With the deficit, the county general fund will finish 2016 with $5.22 million in ending cash.

Those numbers could change before the end of the year through supplemental budgets requested by ailing departments. The county already is anticipating a supplemental budget request from the county’s security department.

Sherman also noted that at least $236,300 had not been billed by the county’s equipment repair and rental department. That also could impact the operating deficit and the numbers presented on Monday.

“I really rely on the departments to let me know if there’s something going on,” Sherman said.

Last week, during a 2017 budget update on Oct. 5, Sherman noted that the 2017 general fund budget remained in flux as the county awaits the Assessor’s Office valuations to account for property tax incomes.

Sherman said the Assessor’s Office has indicated it’s close to releasing the preliminary values.

“It’s getting earlier and earlier — that’s exciting,” Raines said.

The commissioners also are currently negotiating union contract salaries. Salaries and benefits make up some 72 percent of general fund expenditures.

Of note from Sherman’s general fund presentation last week were discussions of proposed new hires at the Sheriff’s Office.

Raines noted that the additional deputies requested by the Sheriff’s Office would be paid for by the three-tenths of 1 percent public safety sales tax increase approved during the August primary election. Hiring for the positions would be staggered throughout the year, Raines noted, to ensure the sales tax funding is in place when the deputies are hired.

Raines said the county is anticipating about $1.4 million in public safety sales tax for 10 months in 2017, but she recommended the commissioners budget instead for $1 million so the general fund can have “wiggle room.”

Commissioner Wes Cormier suggested the commissioners handle the budgeting process with a similar approach to last year. Like last year, each commissioner will submit a proposed budget and the commissioners then will either approve one of the suggested budgets or use the budgets to create another option.