Budget reductions are explained

The Comet has been asked by readers to explain how the county budget appropriations have changed over the past 12 months and what those changes mean for each department.

A chart and information can be found on page 5B of this issue. The chart details from information provided what the amended 2007 appropriation budget was, what departments initially requested for 2008, what budget was submitted to the Department of Local Government Finance for approval in September, and finally how the council revised it and adopted it in mid-April.

A brief overview is included of each department's losses, funding shifts and in one case, an increased appropriation. This is not meant to be the final word, but was designed to help the reader grasp the scope of what happened to the county budget and how it got to where it is today.