Evelyn Howell, Staff Writer

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JACKSON - Northampton County Manager Wayne Jenkins went back to the drawing board, followed the county commissioners' directions and came up with a county budget of $22,297,882 for 2008-2009.

The proposed balanced budget has no increase in the tax rate - meaning county taxpayers can breathe a sigh of relief.

Jenkins presented the proposed budget to the Northampton County Board of Commissioners, and they tentatively accepted it Monday. He said the desire to not raise taxes was the driving force in helping them to decide what to leave in and what to leave out of the budget.

With gas prices soaring every day, Jenkins said they paid close attention to the economic hardships some of the county's taxpayers may be facing.

“This was meticulously accomplished by the cooperation of department heads and Finance Officer Dot Vick,” he said.

In order to balance the budget, Jenkins added, they had to roll up their sleeves and tighten their belts.

“We will do more with less and maximize every dollar to its fullest,” he said, adding that they had to cut departmental spending and operating costs as well as funding for agencies and civic organizations. Although no programs were cut, one part-time position was eliminated in personnel, and all 21 departments had to cut back on expenditures to help meet the desired budget target.

Jenkins also said there was some pain and grief in balancing the budget on its fourth try.

“Of the eight years I have prepared budgets, this is the most painful and difficult budget I have faced,” he said. “We have an extremely lean budget.”

The first proposal was $2.3 million over the target and was narrowed to $1.3 million. It took four meetings for Jenkins to chip enough away from the budget to come up with a satisfactory figure.

Jenkins said there will be a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for employees. This year's operating budget is 2.5 percent above the current year.

On Monday, June 16, a commissioners' meeting will be held at 1 p.m., with a public hearing on the proposed budget at 2 p.m., at 100 West Jefferson St., Jackson.