With budget trouble causing worry at the county level, it seems a few simple and obvious measures are the least the county board can do to save some money. Let’s hope the fact that some of them were proposed by Dan Belshan, the board’s official outsider, doesn’t prevent other board members from seeing their wisdom.

Belshan has a flair for drama and sometimes his proposals seem designed to embarass other board members or put on a show for the public, but he does have a series of money-saving ideas that make sense in a time of budget deficit. He has proposed that the commissioners give back the 3-percent raises they gave themselves for this year and put limits on out-of-state travel, overtime, new hiring, seminar enrollment, equipment purchases and mass mailing. These ideas at least deserve serious consideration. They are no different from the kinds of measures a family or business would have to consider if they were short on money.

Belshan tried to give back his extra salary at the last board meeting, but insisted upon the money being designated for audiovisual equipment for the boardroom in the new courthouse addition, and his offer was turned down. Attaching that restriction is the kind of thing that can cause controversy because the board has never agreed that such equipment will be installed in the new board room. If Belshan wants to give his salary back, he should do so without strings attached. The other commissioners should consider returning their raises, as well. They will be asking county employees and residents to make sacrifices and they would be setting a bad example if they aren’t willing to do the same.

Tribune editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s management and editorial staff.