The final approved budget calls for slightly more than $15.4 million in spending during the year. Total revenue, meanwhile, is projected at slightly less than $10.6 million. "If the projected revenue meets our expectations, we feel this is a budget we can be comfortable with," said Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage. Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner described the commissioners' mood as "cautiously optimistic" with regard to the new budget. "It all hinges on the revenue," observed Kluesner. "You can't be real comfortable with the economy going the way it is right now but we believe we've got a budget which will work." After the public hearing, Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson made the motion to approve the budget. Kluesner seconded the motion. The 2009 budget is about $2.5 million less than last year's total, but the commissioners said they felt they needed to reduce spending because the overall economic outlook was much less favorable than it was a year ago. In approving the new budget, the commissioners pointed to the fact Warren County appears to be on better financial footing than numerous other counties around the state. "The good thing is that we don't have to lay people off and we don't have to curtail services," Engelage noted. "A lot of other counties are having to let some employees go or reduce service, or both. "This budget allows us to still provide the services our residents want and have come to expect," he added. The commissioners also said the county is still in reasonable financial shape because there is a significant cash fund reserve which has been allowed to accumulate within the past several years. "We've been conservative with regard to spending," said Engelage. "Now we find ourselves in a position where we can start to spend some of that reserve we've built up." The 2009 budget shows a beginning net cash reserve of just over $9 million. That total is in addition to the $10.5 million in revenue projected for 2009. "I think the commissioners did a good job with this budget," said Randy Lewis, a former commissioner who attended the public hearing. Kluesner, however, sounded one note of caution in looking to the future. "The economic outlook for the future is not especially promising at this point," Kluesner said. "So as we prepare for a tough year, looking ahead to 2010 may be even more challenging. "What that (2010) will bring in is anyone's guess at this point," Kluesner added. "But our budget for next year will reflect a full year of these conditions. It concerns me at this point."