Many Red Willow County officials have squeezed their pennies about as tightly as they can. One official told commissioners at their weekly meeting Monday that if they ask for further cuts in her 2008-09 budget, she may not have any other option but to reduce the number of staffers in her office.

Commissioners had asked elected officials and department heads to help them cut about $216,000 from their proposed budgets to avoid having to increase the county's tax levy and raise taxes.

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"We can't just raise taxes," Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said at the Aug. 4 meeting. "That's difficult to explain to tax payers."

However, that may be what they'll have to do anyway. After working, reworking and reworking budgets again, the estimated final budget could raise the county's tax levy for 2008-09 to 36 cents per $100 of valuation, up from 35 cents in 2007-08 and in 2006-07.

The county's valuation increased about $30.6 million, from $616,771,106 to $647, 401,315.

Tentatively, the budget for all county funds will be $16,195,551.88 ($6,918,714 of which represents the operating funds for Hillcrest Nursing Home).

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt explained that the tax levy increase -- despite a higher valuation and a lower total budget -- will help the county recover some of its cash reserve that it has spent down over the past few years. "We're trying not to get too radical about it (raising the levy)," McNutt said.

This compares to a proposed budget last year of $18,397,116.98.

Commissioners started what they hoped would be ruthless slashing by cutting about $50,000 from the only budget over which they have total control -- roads and bridges -- despite their concerns about roads damaged by winter and spring storms and heavy summer rains.

During budget workshops Monday:

County Assessor Sandra Kotschwar cut $3,235 from convention/workshop expense, office supplies and office equipment, to compensate for a $3,235 anticipated increase in a contract for the reappraisal in 2009 of the county's commercial properties by Jerry Knoche of Lincoln.

As in the past, phone and postage expenses are estimated to go up, Kotschwar said; she said her staff tries to make fewer phone calls and is using more e-mail. Commissioner Leigh Hoyt suggested that Kotschwar, Treasurer Marleen Garcia and Clerk Pauletta Gerver check into a bulk mailing permit.

Kotschwar's proposed budget is $201,066. She budgeted $207,046 for 2007-08 and actually spent $194,528.24.

Kotschwar voiced the sentiments and frustration of other officials: "I tried to make adjustments, but I'm getting desperate. If you ask me to cut any more, I'll have to cut an employee," she said. She asked commissioners whether a full-time employee reduced to part-time status would be able to retain the county's insurance.

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt told her, "We'll make things work," but forewarned that, at some point, cuts in personnel may be an option -- or a last resort.

The Red Willow County Fair board handed in proposed budget cuts totaling $13,000 at the commissioners meeting Monday, and reported a $15,000 increase in revenue as well. The largest single adjustment to the fair's books was a shifting of $5,000 from the fairground's building and grounds repair budget toward increasing the repair budget for the Kiplinger Arena, which is requiring more financial attention due to its increased prominence and use, according to Fair Board Secretary Deb Lafferty. Outright cuts included thousand-dollar reductions from the budgets of printing and publishing, machinery and equipment, and other repair and operation expenses.

The rise in revenue this year was credited by the board to a "cost-of-living" increase in building rents on the fairground property. Fair revenues fell slightly, but board members were still positive on the future of the annual event, and are looking into other possible income streams, including sponsorships of certain fair activities, as well as cost-cutting measures that will reduce unnecessary expenditures.

The 2007-08 budgeted expense for the fair was $583,969; the actual expense was $283,501.85. Next year's budget was proposed to be $583,579.

The budget of the sheriff's department will also see some reductions, but these should not have an effect on the law enforcement organization's technological growth. Thanks to a grant, the cost to outfit department vehicles with new radar equipment and in-car camera systems will be reduced by 75 percent, according to Sheriff Gene Mahon. The 2007-08 budgeted expense for the sheriff's office was $300,465, while actual expenditures totaled $290,582.98. The proposed 2008-09 budget will be $317,513.

When asked about the budget for those in county custody, but housed outside of the jurisdiction, Mahon said that he would like to see what his population looked like at the end of the year before he made any decisions regarding which jails he would continue to keep under contract. The 2007-08 jail budget was set at $282,120, and the actual expense for the year was $278,501. Next year's budget proposal asks for $278,120.

Veterans Service Officer Tom Stritt requested a budget increase from 2007-08's $40,625 to $43,470 for this year. This amount included a pay raise for Stritt from $27,000 to $28,820 a year. The actual expense from the office for the previous year, including Stritt's salary, was $39,206.52.

The County Clerk's office submitted a 2008-09 budget proposal that requested $144,428, which included annual salary increases for the staff that total $6,617. Last year's clerk's budget, including payroll, was $137,692, with actual expenses of $133,708.82.

The Red Willow County Election Commission requested $27,825 for next year's operations, a decrease from the 2007-08 budget of $29,350. The commission's actual expenses last year were $23,118.84.

The county treasurer's office proposed budget for next year totaled $165,556, including the staff's $148,506 payroll. The 2007-08 office budget was $152,381, with actual expenses being $150,162.47.

County Health Department Director Margaret Swanda said she increased some operating expenses and salaries according to the 75-cent/hour raise approved by commissioners.

She said the cost of vaccines continues to climb steadily, and she is extremely careful about ordering just what she needs. Very seldom does she ever have more than her office disburses, she said.

Swanda said she may be able to start offering vaccinations against shingles. Each shot costs $154 and is reimbursed by Medicare. But she has to purchase the vaccines first, and then she is reimbursed, she said.

Swanda, too, asked commissioners about eligibility for the county's insurance program if a full-time employee's hours are reduced to part-time.

Swanda's estimated budget for 2007-08 was $173,570, and she spent $154,601.56. Her estimated budget for 2008-2009 is $182,848.

County Attorney Paul Wood's proposed budget reflects anticipated increases in postage -- from $500 to $600 -- in telephone service -- from $900 to $1,000 -- and in milage -- from $150 to $300.

Wood shows a decrease, however, from $2,000 to $1,400, in office equipment and furniture.

Wood's proposed budget for 2007-2008 was $124,645, and he spent $122,380.10. His proposed budget for 2008-2009 is $128,790.

Clerk of the District Court Beverly Dodge reduced personnel expenses in her office by reducing the salary for a part-time clerical worker from $4,500 to $4,000 because she is on maternity leave.

Dodge reduced proposed spending for office supplies from $3,000 to $2,500; and for office equipment/ furniture from $5,500 to $4,500.

Dodge's budget for the clerk of the district court office was estimated at $85,176 for 2007-08, and she spent $75,784.52. Her proposed budget for 2008-09 is $88,688.

The district judge's budget reflects similar decreases in proposed spending, in office equipment/furniture from $5,500 to $4,500; in office supplies from $1,500 to $1,200; and in the salary for the same part-time clerical worker from $1,500 to $1,200.

The proposed budget for the district judge's office in 2007-2008 was $14,300, and the office spent $6,333.26. The proposed budget for 2008-09 is $11,200.

The county's general fund, which includes the budgets of the elected officials, is estimated at $1,628,772, which includes estimated expenditures of $602,641 and interfund transfers estimated at $1,026,131.

The estimated budget total for 2007-08 was $1,554,668. Actual expenditures were $534,277, and interfund transfer were $985,246, for a total budget expenditure of $1,499,523.

Extension made minor cuts in its proposed budget, decreasing it from $88,322 to $87,982. Its proposed budget in 2007-08 was $80,250; its actual expenditures were $78,873.75.

The court court's proposed budget in 2007-08 was $19,650; its actual expenses were $19,316.90. Its proposed budget for 2008-09 is $19,450.