"We're working this through," said Garry E. Ellingson. "We still don't know the full impact of what lies ahead until Governor Pawlenty's budget goes into effect. Until then, we can only hope for the best and prepare."

Ellingson, 5th District Mower County Commissioner and chairman of the county board, voiced cautious optimism after the commissioners approved spending reductions Tuesday designed to deal with Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotment adjustments.

The decision was unanimous to approve the adjustments. Finance committee chairman Ray Tucker, 2nd District, made the motion to approve the recommendations of the committee and Dick Lang, 4th District commissioner, seconded it. David Hillier, 3rd District, was absent due to a death in the family.

As proposed by the finance committee, the reductions will attempt to deal with a $122,474 reduction in state spending in Mower County. The unallotment reductions are the governor's attempt to balance the state's budget in 2003.

The 11 areas to see a reduction in spending are:

Watershed planning funds

Private drainage education funds

Wetlands evaluations

Soil erosion projects implementation

Groundwater monitoring, except for township well-testing, which is being funded by the Mower County Townships Association

Well sealing

Floodplain mapping

Environmental Ag Days education and awareness

Individual Sewage Treatment System loan interest payments

ISTS development education funds will be reduced

ISTS monitoring will be increased by $590, but to cover Community Health Service funds being transferred to environmental health

In all, the finance committee's recommendation shaves the county's financial support of the affected programs to $23,708 from the original $64,281 budgeted by the county commissioners.

Tucker said the finance committee acted upon recommendations from individual departments. He also said the committee decided against using any more of its steadily declining fund balance reserves.

The county's water plan management committee's funds were "hit the worst," according to Tucker and will suffer an immediate $40,000 reduction in county funds.

For the nearly 50 percent reduction in spending for a wide range of programs, Tucker said citizens will see "no or a minimal impact on services" or a "complete reduction."

The county's $59,000 match of state funds to continue its feedlot program "as is," -- untouched. According to Tucker, the county will wait to see if the proposed reinstatement of full-funding for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's financial contribution toward feedlot program across the state remains in the governor's budget.

Ellingson praised the various department heads for their "insight and recommendations."

The county board chairman refused to speculate on the full impact of reductions in spending.

"Some could be deep and some could only be superficial," he said. "It all depends on what the state of Minnesota does and if they pass along their mandates without any funding. Then, we could really be in trouble."

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com