Lucas Co commissioners pass 2010 budget

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - Earlier Tuesday, Lucas County Commissioners Pete Gerken, Tina Skeldon Wozniak and Ben Konop passed the county's 2010 operating budget.

The spending plan calls for cuts from every county department, including in the general fund, which pays for things like the sheriff's office.

The 2010 general fund budget is $132 million, but that's significantly less than 2009's operating budget.

"It's actually $10 million less in 2010 than it was in '09," said County Commissioner Tin Skeldon Wozniak. "Hopefully we will limit layoffs but the possibility certainly does exist. It's tough times. Just like businesses, just like families, the county has had to tighten its belt."

The commissioners do say that there would be very few, if any, layoffs inside the sheriff's office. Upwards of 50 county jobs were mentioned to be eliminated after Monday's budget release.

The commissioners said they are looking at ways to minimize lay-offs with incentives for early retirements and other voluntary leaves.