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County Administrator John Males warned the commissioners revenue is going to be down even before the state announces their budget cuts.

"I am very concerned with the beginning balance. We attempted to build it up and had $839,828. Currently the contingency is $223,736. We spent $616,092 this year," he stated.

Males and the treasurer are going to prepare a budget packet for the commissioners so they can review the current budget as well as 2008 projections before the budget workshop.

They scheduled the workshop for Oct. 9. The board meeting, which is being Tuesday because the Columbus Day holiday, will begin at 9 a.m. to allow time for the workshop after the meeting.

In other business, the board is talking about rescinding their support for the Thumb Area Tourism Council's rails to trails project. The issue will be addressed during the Oct. 15 Physical & Economic Development Committee meeting, which a number of residents plan to attend.

The Tourism Council wants to create trails along the former railroad tracks in the Decker, Snover and Sandusky area to connect with proposed trails in Tuscola County.

Commissioner James Ruby reported he attended a lengthy meeting last week in Tuscola County where residents protested the rails to trails plan for their area.

"Some landowners would actually have their property cut in half...People who have bought property (along the former railroad) built within 50 foot of that," Ruby said.

"Rails to trails on the west-side of the state are well used...But they were developed shortly after the railroad was closed. This one was abandoned so many years ago," explained Parks Commission Coordinator Bob Wood.

Commissioner William Walters said the rail lines were abandoned over 50 years ago.

*Vice-chairman Donald Hunt and Commissioner Gary Russell voted no on the 2007 millage rate for the med-control millage.

Hunt is opposed to the county-wide millage, which funds EMS training and coordination, not ambulances as so many residents mistakenly believe. The Croswell Ambulance Service, which serves his district, is trying to form its own ambulance authority. Hunt represents Worth, Fremont and Buel townships.

The county levies 0.1972 mills for the med-control millage, which is titled ambulance millage on the tax bills.