Three major budget requests presented to the Moore County Board of Commissioners Monday night hold the line at the 2008-2009 spending level.

However, both the Moore County public schools and Sandhills Community College face stiff spending challenges because of expected reductions in state appropriations and increases in operational expenses.

The budget presented by Sandhills Mental Health Center also asks for no new county money but this has been the practice of the center for the past five years.

"Yours is a tough job, even in good times," Dr. John Dempsey, president of Sandhills Community College, said to the board in acknowledging that the tough budget decisions are shared by everyone.

The budget presented by School Superintendent Susan Purser totals $26,069,145, the same amount approved for the current year. Of that total, almost $25 million is designated for current expenses, the rest for capital outlay.

Purser told the commissioners that the school system expects $773,000 in increased costs for the new fiscal year. These increases include mandated expenses, such as utilities and personnel costs. She said the school system has worked out a reduction plan equal to the expected increase.

Looming as an even worse problem is the expected reduction in state appropriations. The state provides 61 percent of the school system's operational funding.

But this year, because of revenue shortfalls and other economic setbacks, the state is expected to make sharp cuts in funding to schools.

Gov. Beverly Perdue has presented a budget which, if adopted, would reduce appropriations to Moore County by more than $2 million, and the state Senate has passed a budget that would cut about the same amount. The state House will not make its budget known until late May, but school officials have already been advised to expect a 17-20 percent percent reduction there.

If the legislature acts according to history, it is likely the state budget will not be adopted before the county must adopt its budget for the new fiscal year. The new budget must be in place by July 1.

Dempsey said that the community college situation is acute because the funding cutbacks come in the face of a 10 percent increase in enrollment. With unemployment at its highest level in decades, more and more people are seeking training for new career choices.

"That's a pretty good wallop for a school our size," Dempsey said.

The college is asking for budget allocations totaling $4,185,541, a sum that represents zero growth compared to the current year's budget. Of this total, $4.1 million is designated for current expenses.

Dempsey cited a number of cost increases that must be absorbed into the current expense budget for 2009-2010, such as increases in utilities and gasoline prices. The new horticulture building will become operational in the fall, another new cost for operations and maintenance.

With everyone aware of the dire economic circumstances, no one complained.

"We could not ask for more cooperation," Dempsey said in thanking the commissioners for their attention to college needs. "We could not ask for more support."

Although his budget did not include an increase, Michael Watson, CEO of the Sandhills Center, reminded the commissioners that the center has not requested an increase in general county funding in five years. The center, with headquarters in Seven Lakes, serves eight counties with mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services.

The center's budget request totals $587,265, but only $298,107 represents the county general allocation. The rest is flow-through money channeled from state and federal sources to special programs. The local allocation reflects a $3.49 per capita expenditure on the part of the county, which is about in the middle of per capita figures for the eight counties. Randolph County pays the highest per capita, $7.06, and Hoke pays the smallest, $1.27.

Watson said all of the county allocation is devoted to support of "our county walk-in/crisis units."

Commissioner Cindy Morgan, who serves on the center area board, commended Watson for his leadership. Although some centers elsewhere in the state have encountered serious administrative problems, this is not the case in the Sandhills Center, she said.

"We're fortunate to have him," Morgan said.

The commissioners thanked the three for their presentations but took no action during the meeting. Action will come later, probably in June, when the board is to approve a budget for the new fiscal year.

County Manager Cary McSwain is expected to present his budget proposal to the board at an early May meeting.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.