Alpena County’s 2009 fiscal year budget is nearly ready for public review.

County Treasurer Joelyn McCallum would like to have it on display in her office by December 1st. State law requires the budget to be on public display for two-weeks so citizens can look it over and ask questions.

If no changes are made between now and then, the $8.75-million dollar balanced budget maintains a hiring freeze instituted years ago; requires commissioners to cut all part-time, contractual and temporary positions if the fund balance falls below 10-percent of budget; and requires layoffs if the fund balance falls below 8-percent.

The new budget includes revenues that are down only slightly from the projected revenues for the end of 2008. And, it includes expenditures that are up only $14,000.

The budget includes two personnel cuts - a part-time maintenance position and a part-time position in the prosecutor’s office.

If the current budget projection for 2008 holds steady through the end of the year, the county will carry a fund balance of $2.17-million dollars into 2009, an increase of nearly $42,000.