Earlier this week they conducted individual meetings with many of the county department heads to begin the budget process. "At this stage, these meetings are just to get a feel for what their wish lists might include," said Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage. "We're asking each department head to prioritize any major additions they would like to have included in their budget in 2009. "These are just proposals," stressed Engelage. "We'll take a look at each one. If it's something we feel will help move the county forward, we'll try to give it serious consideration." According to state statute, the county's official budget for the fiscal year which runs from Jan. 1-Dec. 31 does not have to be finalized and approved until the end of January. County officials said they hope to have the 2009 budget approved by sometime in the middle of January. Last year the budget was approved on Jan. 24. Commissioners also noted they expected to have to "hold the line" on expenditures for 2009 due to the overall economic picture. "Things will pretty much stay the same," said Southern District Commissioner Randy Lewis. "They almost have to." Last year the commissioners approved a buget that included nearly $18 million in spending. That represented about a 40 percent increase over the 2007 figure of $12.6 million in spending. Approximately $5 million of the jump in expenditures was dedicated to early repayment of the debt service on bonds used to finance construction of the new county courthouse and for construction of the new county administration building. Total county revenue for 2008 was projected at just over $23 million, but that included more than $10 million in cash reserves from previous years. "Doing the 2009 budget will be difficult," said Lewis, "but I suspect the biggest impact will not be felt by the commissioners until the year after next." Lewis noted since 2009 will be a reassessment year, county property tax revenue is likely to be down significantly for both 2009 and 2010. "The property assessments will probably be lower (in 2009)," said Lewis. "That will be a tremendous challenge." The commissioners said they felt it was "way too early" to determine if county employees can expect to see a pay raise next year. "We always try to give them something," observed Engelage. Engelage said he felt Warren County was in a similar financial plight as most other counties throughout the state. "We might even be better off than a lot of other counties," he said. "We went to the MAC (Missouri Association of Counties) conference recently and a lot of other counties are having to lay people off or not fill open positions. "At least we're not having to do that here," he added. "We hope to be able to at least keep everything the same next year." Incoming commissioners Hubie Kluesner (southern district) and Dan Hampson (northern district), who will succeed Lewis and Jim Logan in January, attended many of the preliminary budget meetings. "It will help us transition into our new roles," said Kluesner. "It's very educational to sit in on these meetings to see where the revenue is. "That's always a deciding factor in determining where the money will be spent," he added.