County budget down 5.4 percent in 2010

It’s the second straight year commissioners have whittled down the budget, with operating costs at $15 million in 2008, $14.48 million in 2009 and down to $13.69 million in 2010 — a nine percent drop between 2008-2010.

BOC members officially approved nest year’s budget Thursday. The group spent months discussing 2010 budget numbers, reviewing line items to look for potential cuts.

Commissioners agreed to cut holiday employee pay in half for county employees in 2010, but the board avoided layoffs and kept the tax rate steady.

The BOC held a public hearing on the budget Dec. 10, but no citizens spoke on the matter. The board received a handout that night from the county finance office that offers a breakdown of how $1,000 of tax money is distributed in the county.

Commissioners praised the job that new chairman Anthony Dove and the finance staff did in preparing the 2010 budget.

“I’ve been on the board 10 years and not one time have we had this kind of smooth budget process,” said Commissioner Bruce Scogin Dec. 10.

Commissioner John Pethel said the board has never had the kind of financial information it had during this year’s budget planning.

Commissioner Mike Youngblood agreed, saying that he considered not running during the past election.

“I’m glad I jumped back in this thing,” said Youngblood.

Dove said preparing the 2010 budget was “a team effort.”

“But we’re not out of this thing yet,” said Dove of the hard times financially.