The Mason County Commission has adopted the County 2010 Budget and only half the necessary property tax levy. On a two to one split vote, the County Commissioners approved next year's budget that totals nearly $113.6 Million ($113,565,708) which includes almost $26.4 Million ($26,364,294) in the Current Expense Fund and other funds totaling over $87.2 Million (487,201,414). This budget features a 1% reduction for each department and $750,000 in deferred payments to the Equipment Rental & Revolving Fund (ER&R) but NO further layoffs. The dissenting vote came from Commissioner Tim Sheldon who again stated the economy won't support the budget as he expects the County's revenues to continue to decline. Sheldon also expects the Commissioners will have to revisit the budget in the next few months and make additional cuts.The Commission then went on the approve the 2010 Current Expense Property Tax Levy and the 2010 Skokomish Flood Control Zone District Property Tax Levy at levels that are 1% higher than 2009. Those votes were also split two to one. Commissioner Sheldon said the Commission has an opportunity to save taxpayers by NOT approving the 1% increase. The Commission failed to approve the resolutions setting the 2010 Road Property Tax Levy. The proposal was to increase that levy 1% but Commissioner Ross Gallagher's motion died due to lack of second. There was an attempt to calculate the Road Levy without the increase but in the end the Commissioners decided to wait until the Assessor recalculates the numbers. Action on next year's Road Property Tax Levy is expected sometime in the next week.