Although the Butler County commissioners on Thursday passed the 2008 county budget of $185.3 million, next year's budget might change once the new board takes office.

"I do believe we will reopen the budget," said Commissioner-elect Dale Pinkerton following the meeting.

Commissioner-elect Jim Lokhaiser agreed: "There's no two ways about it."

Pinkerton and Lokhaiser plan on reviewing the budget with a committee of business leaders to determine if any changes need to be made.

Neither commissioner-elect cited a specific budgetary concern. Lokhaiser said he needed to become more familiar with the details.

The budget was approved in a 2-to-1 vote. Scott Lowe, commissioner chairman who lost his re-election bid, dissented, saying he preferred to have a tax dedicated to Butler County Community College.

The county already dedicates 5 mills to debt service.

Lowe said the county's contributions to the college need to be protected, which can't be done if the money is taken from the general fund.

County officials originally proposed a budget cutting or eliminating funding to the college and nearly 30 other nonprofit organizations.

Representatives from BC3 and other groups protested the proposal, stressing the need for the funding.

The college now is budgeted to get $4.6 million from the county in 2008. Under the initial proposal, the college would have gotten $1.5 million.

The approved budget raises property taxes by 2.5 mills to a total of 30 mills.

Commissioner Glenn Anderson, who did not seek re-election, begrudgingly voted for the budget and accompanying tax hike. He said the county can't discontinue funding organizations such as the college and the library system.

"This new prison has put us in debt," Anderson said.

He said when he first proposed building a new prison years ago, the cost would have been $18 million.

"We could have built it much cheaper," Anderson said.

The current cost for the prison is $40 million. It is expected to open next year.

Commissioner Jim Kennedy, who also voted for the budget, did not comment on his vote.

The 2008 budget is nearly $4 million less than the $189 million budget this year.

Bill O'Donnell, chief county clerk, attributed the decrease to construction of the new county prison winding down.