STEUBENVILLE - Jefferson County's operating budget for 2010 was discussed during Thursday's commissioners' meeting.

County commissioners, currently undergoing budget discussions with county department heads, described a 2010 budget that will include cutbacks in services and layoffs. The dire assessment was made by all three commissioners through remarks Thursday on the progress of budget proceedings.

"We know we're in a very bad situation next year regarding the budget," said Commissioner Tom Graham. "We're going to have to make some cuts. Jefferson County government is going to have to downsize like everything else. It is now that time."

Graham said all sources of projected revenue for county operations are decreasing in 2010, including taxes collected, interest rates on county deposits and about $1 million less in revenue coming from the state as compared to 2009. He added the outlook for next year's budget is so severe that "the county could go to a four-day work-week, and it still wouldn't be enough (to cover a projected deficit)." Graham added the size of county government would need to shrink by nearly 15 percent in 2010 to meet the projected incoming revenue.

Commissioner Dave Maple expressed disappointment that some county departments had submitted budgets that don't reflect the reality of the fiscal situation.

"We're going to be challenged," said Maple, adding cuts will be more severe in some departments than others. "We knew this was coming. I was hoping by now more departments would have downsized their operations. It's going to be very difficult to decide how to (proceed)."

Commissioner Tom Gentile agreed with the assessment by Graham and Maple.

"I feel we're entering into a new era of government," said Gentile, adding rapidly decreasing revenue is forcing governments to "enter into uncharted waters. We're going to have to figure out how to do more with less. Not a lot of people in government know how to do that."

Gentile went on to say it is important that county departments realize they are all in the same situation.

"We're all in this together," he said. "We have to work together to do this. You're going to see a new Jefferson County government."

All three commissioners expressed regret about what they described as inevitable layoffs of some county employees in 2010.

"There's a human element in all this," said Graham. "It's very unfortunate, but that's the reality of the situation."

No figures for the 2010 county budget were available as of Thursday's meeting.

In other matters:

Commissioners approved to accept a $1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a study to identify contaminated industrial and commercial properties in Jefferson County for possible cleanup and revitalization for future business development.

The Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission had applied for the funds and was granted the $1 million. Domenick Mucci, director of the regional planning commission, said the funds could be used to study any potential site in Jefferson County. He added RMT Inc. had been chosen as the firm to conduct the study.

Mucci said after properties have been identified, the county could apply for funds for cleanup of any potential site.

"(Once the study is complete) we can move onto planning the development of that site," Mucci noted.

He added the EPA had budgeted about $140 million nationwide for the grants, including $5 million for Ohio. Commissioners said they were grateful to be obtaining the funds at no cost to the county.

"This process has been a good process. I saw a lot of good presentations. It motivated me. This is a positive for the property owner and the community," said Maple, who added property owners needn't fear any assessments made through the study.

"We're really grateful to get this grant," said Graham.

All three commissioners said they will be compiling lists of potential sites for the study.

It was announced the county courthouse would close at noon on Tuesday, Election Day.

(Miller can be contacted at mmiller@heraldstaronline.com.)