A positive projection for the Grays Harbor County 2016 general fund is being met with pessimism by county leadership and staff.

As it stands, the county general fund could finish 2016 with an operating surplus of more than $70,000. The general fund has budgeted expenditures of more than $27.6 million. The surplus relies on departments within the general fund spending only 97 percent of their total budgets.

In total, the general fund has less than 12 percent of its general fund revenue remaining for the month of December.

“Hopefully we’ll get through and only spend 97 percent, but the departments are authorized to spend the full amount, so it just depends on where they fall in that range,” county budget director Brenda Sherman said during a presentation to the commissioners on Dec. 12.

Some departments will need assistance before the year is out. The Auditor’s office had less than 5 percent of its budget remaining. Sherman said the culprit was higher than anticipated elections costs. During the afternoon meeting, the commissioners approved an emergency budget of $75,000 for the Auditor’s office.

The commissioners’ fund within the general fund had less than 8 percent remaining. There, Sherman said, the cause was a reimbursement that was pending but not yet received. During the afternoon meeting, the commissioners approved an emergency budget of $5,000 for their own fund.

Revenues were down some $1.3 million from what is budgeted for the year as of the end of November. The county has received more than 95 percent of its revenue. Sherman was confident the difference would be made up in property and sales tax.

“We will get what we budgeted in property taxes, maybe a little more. In sales tax, we should get all of that,” she said. “We’ll have to see on some of the other categories, I haven’t heard back from the departments.”

A supplemental budget also was approved by the commissioners during the afternoon meeting for a total of $166,477. The bulk of that amount, $138,436, is allocated to the Sheriff’s office.

Another increase to revenue came by way of state timber harvest, some $250,000. In total, the county is bringing in an additional $428,977 since the last budget update. Some of that funding, including the $80,000 to cover the aforementioned emergency budgets, was allocated, but more than $250,000 would act as a surplus for the general fund.

Total projected revenue is more than $27.7 million. Total projected expenditures is more than $27.6 million. The difference is the more than $70,000 surplus.

“I’m crossing my fingers, but I’m not expecting it,” Commissioner and Chairman Wes Cormier said.