The Seneca County Board of Commissioners met with elected county officials to field questions about the 2010 budget following its Thursday meeting.
County Auditor Julie Adkins said the budget commission has yet to certify the 2010 budget.
The commission may have a better estimate after its next meeting later this month.
Ben Nutter, board president, said commissioners are estimating their 2010 general fund budget to be $14.1 million, down from $14.9 million in 2009.
"We can't pass a budget without certification," Nutter said.
"At this point, this board I think is prepared to do everything as though $14.1 million is going to be the (certified amount), and if we have to make adjustments then we and (the auditor's office) and our staffs will be busy."
Commissioner Dave Sauber said the board would like to move forward.
"I believe the board's intention is in the first couple weeks of December to have a budget based on certification," he said. "If the budget commission can give us a number by the first week of December, our goal is to get that accomplished."
Commissioner Mike Bridinger agreed.
"As soon as we get that number, we're prepared to move forward," he said.
Stacy Wilson, county administrator, said she sent out budget request guidelines to county offices Wednesday. The board has asked county offices to reduce their budgets by 10 percent and urged a hold on raises for 2010.
To show their commitment, the three commissioners have agreed to a 5-percent salary cut. Nutter suggested the same for the others present.
Nutter said commissioners want department requests that are 10 percent lower than what was awarded in the 2009 budget.
"If you choose to lower your salary, that in effect goes back into your department - that percentage of lowering offsets whatever cuts you have to make," he said.
In other business, the board accepted a motion for a $20,000 fund advance to the Emergency Medical Agency Fund.
EMA Director Dan Stahl told the board the EMA has not yet received an Emergency Management Performance Grant.
The EMA took a similar advance in 2008.
"It just gets to this time of the year and I run out of cash," Stahl said. "The money's coming, but it's not here yet.
"But the nice part is we are spending everything we can that they give us, and if we can't do that we have to give it back to the feds, and we don't want to do that."
The board is to meet Monday at 10 a.m.
In other news, the board:
n Accepted an appropriation adjustment within the general fund from contract services to supplies for $6,000.
n Accepted a supplemental appropriation to the general fund for $300,000.
n Accepted a fund transfer to the Children Services Fund for $300,000.
n Accepted a resolution-setting time, date and place to receive sealed bids for a new bridge on CR 42.
n Accepted a resolution entering into a contract with J.B. & Co. Inc. for the replacement of the Seneca County Museum carriage house roof, to be paid for with Community Development Block Grant Funds.
n Accepted a resolution entering into a contract with H&H Environmental LLC for the Seneca County Museum asbestos abatement project, to be paid for with Community Development Block Grant Funds.
n Accepted a resolution entering into a contract with WSOS CAC Inc. for the Seneca County Fair Housing Program Presentations, to be paid for with Community Development Block Grant Funds.
n Accepted a resolution authorizing the Seneca County commissioners to enter into a contract service agreement with Allen Excavating for the Kelser, Walters and Dunlap properties for the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund - HSTS Project.
n Accepted a resolution providing for the issuance and sale of $506,000 in notes, in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, for the improvement of buildings and facilities and improving and equipping the sites to house some county offices and functions and other related offices serving county residents.
n Accepted a resolution providing the issuance and sale of $94,000 notes, in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, for the purpose of acquiring cardiac monitors/defibrillators and other equipment for use in carrying out functions of the Division of Emergency Medical Services.
