The painful first steps toward a 2002 balanced budget in Hamilton County begin today — even though county officials don't yet know how much money they'll have to cut from next year's budget.

        The only certainty is that cuts are ahead.

        Officials from all the county's departments will attend a daylong retreat today, to talk about ways of raising revenues or cutting expenses.

        County officials know at least $5 million less is coming into the general fund. And the county's Department of Human Services (DHS), the agency that provides services to poor people, likely will have to cut about $30 million from its budget.

        County Administrator Dave Krings said the purpose of the meeting is to educate department heads on the financial crisis, then to brainstorm.

        “This is not going to be a "Chicken Little' session,” Mr. Krings said. “But that's why we have to have contingency plans, so we have the thought process completed in case the worst happens.”

        Don Thomas, director of DHS, said he will not recommend any cuts for his agency today. Those recommendations will be given to commissioners in June, he said.

        “We'll do some brainstorming on new ways to do things more efficiently,” Mr. Thomas said. “And we'll look for revenues we haven't thought of before.”

        At least one department head will be absent — Auditor Dusty Rhodes.

        Mr. Rhodes said his department has been financially responsible for the past 10 years, reducing his staff from 174 to 118 while taking on additional responsibilities.

        “We really don't need folks telling us how to save money,” Mr. Rhodes said. “We've been working at that all along, which is a much better way than waiting until it hits the fan and everyone goes into panic mode.”

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