The board of supervisors agreed with County Administrative Officer Terri Daly's request last week to postpone approval of the county's final budget until later this month.

The county's proposed 2008-09 budget, approved unanimously by the board on July 1, was scheduled for final approval Aug. 26. Daly told supervisors during her presentation that it would behoove the county to wait to approve the budget until the Sept. 16 board meeting, whether or not the state passes its budget by that date.

"We may have to come back and revisit it if the state does not pass it by then," Daly said.

Daly also told the board that the cost-saving programs the county has implemented - such as the early retirement incentive, temporary transfers and voluntary furlough program - were still being reviewed. Applications for the county's early retirement program were due two weeks ago. As of Aug. 27, the deadline for applicants to rescind their applications, 28 early retirement applications were approved. Daly said she anticipates these early retirements to save the county about $100,000 this year and about $3 million next year.

The county's proposed budget represents a 1 percent increase from last year's budget of $72 million, which brings next year's expenditures to $73.3 million.

Some of the scheduled costs in the recommended budget include $500,000 for outside counsel to work on Indian gaming issues, $500,000 for continual plans to close a county-owned landfill south of Ione, and $460,000 for the planning department's efforts to continue the general plan update.

By law the county has to approve its budget by Sept. 20, Daly said, noting that Sept. 16 is the last date the board will meet prior to that deadline. If the state's budget isn't passed by then, "I will recommend a budget (to the board) that anticipates what the state will do."

Several county programs are in danger of suffering cuts, Daly said. "The state's 10 percent cut across the board could affect many services," including social, mental and public health services, she said.

More than 50 county employees, representing about 5,700 hours of work time, have applied for the volunteer furlough program. Daly said she anticipates this will save the county $200,000. There are currently about 500 people employed by the county.

A Public Policy Institute of California survey released Wednesday found that Californians are pessimistic about the economy and the general direction of the state, according to The Associated Press. A record number of likely voters, 39 percent, named jobs and the economy as their chief concern, followed by the state budget impasse, education, immigration and gas prices.