A special committee started its discussions about slashing the county’s budget Monday.

The county administration department brought up nearly $1 million in potential cuts in programs and positions from the 2003 budget. The committee will assess the impact on the public if those cuts are implemented.

The county expects $400,000 in state aid cuts in 2003 and $800,000 next year. In addition, the state will reduce or eliminate funds the county uses to carry out various programs.

Commissioner Dan Belshan pointed out simply cutting $400,000 would not be enough for the county to overcome the budget crisis.

Belshan said he was specifically concerned about the dip in the county’s reserves. Last year, the county used about $500,000 to make ends meet. In the 2003 budget, about $700,000 in reserve funds is appropriated for road and bridge projects.

&uot;Our reserves are dropping to an unacceptable level,&uot; Belshan said. &uot;We are bleeding to death. We cannot keep taking money out of reserves.&uot;

The potential savings the county administration indicated would inevitably trigger fierce resistance.

Any change in the $275,000 watershed management costs, for example, would affect the county’s efforts to prevent the establishment of a Shell Rock River Watershed District, which some citizens have been asking for. The state would appoint a board to run the district, which would have taxing power, but the county has staved off the process by undertaking the watershed cleanup effort on its own.

Randy Tuchtenhagen of Freeborn County Environmental Services said 90 percent of the budget is for the Shell Rock River Watershed improvement. The state asked the county to provide enough funding to justify its objection against the watershed-district proposal.

Other potential cuts includes $100,000 for county park projects and $700,000 in road and bridge funds out of the reserve fund, and delaying hiring or eliminating positions that are already appropriated in the budget such as geography Information system coordinator ($56,585), sheriff’s office investigator ($73,000), public health nurse ($43,000) and extension office clerk ($31,000).

Commissioner Dan Springborg proposed reducing work hours by closing the courthouse earlier on Friday, except essential services. The average hourly wage of the 275 county employees is $17.

The committee’s meetings are open to the public. Future meetings are scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday and 3 p.m. Monday, where the department heads will address the committee with their arguments.

Committee members include commissioners Dan Springborg, the chairman, and Dan Belshan, the vice-chairman; department heads Lois Ahern of Public Health and Randy Tuchtenhagen of Environmental Services; and citizens Frank Gjersvik, Jeanne Venem, Brad Haugen, Jim Blair and Warren Jensen.