St. Joseph County officials wrestle with cuts

By ERIN BLASKO, South Bend Tribune Staff Writer

eblasko@sbtinfo.com

SOUTH BEND - After a week spent wrangling with department heads and each other, St. Joseph County officials appear to have a county budget for 2010. And just in time - state law mandates budgets be approved by Nov. 1.

As proposed, the nearly $63.5 million budget eliminates about 40 county positions and reduces overall spending by nearly $930,000 from 2009, moves necessary, officials say, because of projected revenue shortfalls due to the economy and state-enacted property tax cuts.