JEFFERSON — Ashtabula County commissioners warned elected officials Monday to tighten the reins on spending for fourth quarter in order to have a sufficient carryover Jan. 1.

County budget analyst James Hardin handed out the gloomy news in financial details on the condition of the county general fund.

The general fund status for this last quarter was the main topic for Monday’s elected officials breakfast hosted by the commissioners. Actual appropriations for the 2008 county general fund totaled $23.4 million, but revenues have been falling behind.

Commissioners began several months ago to urge all elected officeholders to hold the line on expenditures. Monday’s tone of advice did not change from a month ago.

Hardin projected Monday a carryover Jan. 1 of $783,366. It could be greater if the county’s sales tax collections and interest earned on investments increase slightly.

“It’s a very volatile situation,” Hardin commented afterwards.

Board president Dan Claypool said the board requested all elected officials and department heads to start making adjustments with their appropriations such as cut back on only necessary purchases and travel expenses. Claypool said the commissioners will monitor budgetary requests from all departments and offices, which are covered by the county general fund.

“Everyone knew at the beginning of the year the budget was going to be tight. We have been showing officials the financial figures at our joint breakfasts each month,” Claypool said.

“There were some departments that took pay freezes and others did not this year. We have several union contracts coming up for negotiations before the end of the year,” Claypool said.

Commissioner Joe Moroski echoed the concerns for elected officeholders to hold the line on their year-end spending.

“It’s quite obvious our economy is contracting and it is being felt in less revenues for the general fund. We (commissioners) will be looking to question and make cuts on any purchase orders. We will keep an eye on line item transfers. We have to conserve spending as much as we can,” Moroski said.

With less than $1 million carryover into 2009, Moroski said it would only stretch for two payrolls of county workers.

“We will begin to hold budget meetings by the end of the year for the elected officeholders,” he said.

This month the commissioners are required by law to hold public hearings for three county offices. The board has set Oct. 23 for a hearing with the county Veteran Services Commission; Oct. 29 for Ashtabula County Common Pleas Courts and Oct. 30 for the county Juvenile and Probate Courts.