Advisory board's overspending has no effect on Shoshone taxpayers

WALLACE — The Shoshone Board of County Commissioners recently held a hearing to discuss reopening its budget to approve funds that were spent by the Shoshone County Snowmobile Groomers Advisory Board.

The SGAB is an independently governed entity the county manages the budget for. 

The county’s budget reflects the Snowmobile Groomers' annual monetary needs, but none of the funds budgeted for the groomers is levied from local taxpayers. 

In 2022-23, the county originally budgeted $30,890 for the SGAB — the same dollar amount proposed in prior years. However, it spent more than double that amount throughout the year. Equipment repairs, supplies as well as the purchase of a new pickup truck took it $39,106.91 over what it had been allotted.
This overage comes at no cost to county taxpayers. Through grants and funds generated through the SGAB’s licensing and sticker fees, the money needed to pay for all the expenses was available, it just needed approval from the county commissioners. 

Commissioner Tracy Casady has been working closely with the SGAB and said she and the advisory board anticipate they will have to increase their annual proposed budget in the coming years to keep up with the rising costs and inflation. 

The Shoshone County Snowmobile Groomers Board meets monthly, their next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Shoshone County Public Safety Building.