POMEROY - Meigs County Commissioners have begun the process of establishing a working budget for 2008, and they expect the budget will be much like this year's.

Commissioner Mick Davenport said he and Commissioner Jim Sheets have begun to consider officeholders' budgetary requests in preparation for the process of appropriating general fund money into departmental budgets for 2008.

Davenport said a general fund budget for next year should be completed by commissioners' meeting on Dec. 27, but added that budgetary appropriations for special revenue funds might not be completed until later next week. The budget must be approved by Jan. 1 so the county can continue its financial operations in the new year.

He said the deadline has passed for encumbering money, or earmarking it for 2007 bills expected to arrive in early 2008. That will allow Auditor Mary Byer-Hill to provide an estimate of the carryover for next year. That carryover is important, because it will allow the county to make payroll and pay bills early in the new year before real estate tax revenue, sales tax proceeds and other income comes in.

In January, commissioners carried over $300,000 in unspent funds from 2006. Davenport said a similar carryover is expected for 2008. This year's general fund budget was $3.62 million, and again, commissioners expect little change for the 2008 budget.

Davenport said no budget cuts are expected in the line items of individual offices.

“Our sales tax proceeds continue on the increase, but we're operating next year without proceeds from personal property taxes, so it balances out for the most part,” Davenport said. “Next year will be very much like this year.”

The general fund pays payroll expenses, utilities, supplies and other operating expenses for county courthouse offices, including the commissioners' own budget, and those of the sheriff, courts, auditor, treasurer, recorder, and courthouse maintenance and operation.

Other departments which operate from outside revenue, including the highway department, and those which receive levy proceeds from voted millage, such as the tuberculosis office and Emergency Medical Services, are part of the special revenue budget process which will be completed after the general fund budget is finalized.