With expenses to build the new administration building and to purchase property for a four-county recycling center, Warren County will be spending nearly $4 million more than it budgeted a year ago. The county's 2010 proposed budget calls for $19,480,310 in expenditures. In 2009, the adopted county budget projected $15,441,497 in expenses, a difference of $3,912,083. This year's proposed expenditures are the highest ever in the county's history, topping the previous mark of $17,826,249 in 2008. The county also is estimating it will see an increase in revenue this year. Officials are budgeting to receive $11,965,043, $1.3 million more than the 2009 estimates. The county began the year with $9,801,152.79 in cash reserves. The budget will be approved following a public hearing scheduled for Monday, Jan. 25, at 11:30 a.m. in the commission's office. Commissioners said they were approached by the East Central Solid Waste District toward the end of 2009 to see if they were interested in purchasing property for the proposed recycling center. Nearly $300,000 has been earmarked for the recycling center, which would be used by residents from Warren, Lincoln, Franklin and Montgomery counties. The commissioners said the solid waste district would operate the facility and lease the property from the county. They declined to release any further details. "This is something that would be centrally located for all four counties," Engelage said. The county's new administration building is expected to be built this year on land the county purchased a year ago along South Highway 47. While the county has $5,861,237 allocated for the building project, a firm figure for construction won't be known until bids are received later this year. "Spending the capital (improvement funds) from what we saved over the years is what kicked it (expenditures) up," Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage said. He said the budget would be significantly lower if not for the $6 million in the capital improvement funds that will mostly be used for the construction of the administration building. The commissioners acknowledged the trouble crafting this year's budget during these current tough economic times. They had been meeting with department heads for more than a month going over this year's figures, along with time spent prior to those budget meetings looking at ways to slash expenses. "I think it was a lot more difficult," Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said about finalizing the 2010 budget. "Everybody made significant cuts last year and you were running out of places to cut." Engelage added: "Everyone was open and willing to do what they could to hold their line." The anticipated sales tax revenue to be received in the general revenue, law enforcement and capital improvement funds is $3,521,490, or $1,173,830 individually for each. Engelage, acknowledging the number of businesses closed in the past year, said the county fell short about $75,000 from their projections in 2009. He said the 2010 projected sales tax revenue is the same as what was received in 2009. "That is our backbone," Engelage said. "We're dependent on sales tax." Due to the budget constraints, the commissioners also elected to not give any raises to county employees. "We had to hold the line," Engelage said. "It's not something we like to do." However, the county is paying $500 for each employee who participates in the health care plan to help offset the increase from $1,000 to $1,500 in health care deductibles as part of a health reimbursement fund. By raising the deductible, the commissioners said, it kept premiums from escalating. Also included in the budget is the proposed tax rates for the general revenue fund and the road and bridge fund. The commissioners set the general revenue levy at 12.91 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and at 14.88 cents for the road and bridge fund. In 2009, the tax rates were 12.03 cents for general revenue and 16.81 cents for roads and bridges. The county also has set aside $25,000 to help attract a higher education institution to the county. The city of Warrenton and the Warren County R-III School District will also be contributing funds in the effort to attract a nearby two- or four-year college. Though specifics have not been disclosed, the outlet mall, which has seen many businesses close in the past two years, has been discussed as a place to house the college offices and classrooms. Another project expected to be completed at some point in the year is the remodeling of the maintenance room in the existing courthouse. The space will be used as a jail dorm to possibly house those participating in the inmate work release program. The commissioners noted it will allow those inmates to be segregated from the general population. An additional $101,247 has been budgeted for the purchase of five law enforcement vehicles. Other budget-specific expenses include updating the county's telephone system, finalizing the planning and zoning order, and roof repair or replacement at the courthouse. The budget for the various county funds is as follows: law enforcement, $3,134,422; capital improvements, $6,931,937; road and bridge, $2,425,987; road and bridge capital, $260,000; assessment, $444,952; and federal grants, $1,316,024.