| The Calhoun Commission has approved a $1,846,926 budget for fiscal year 2010-11, but not without problems.
The budget includes about $500,000 pass-throughs or grants, with actual county taxpayer money being budgeted for services at about $1,300,000.
The county's elected officials are watching their budgets, much aware that money is tight.
The commission continues a policy of no discretionary spending.
The commission has withheld $5,000 from the budgets of elected officials as a precautionary measure.
The county is still maintaining one of the lowest tax bases in the state, and has one of the smallest budgets of the 55 counties.
County taxpayer money goes toward operating the county (40%) and the local school system (60%).
A real budget challenge is expected for the 2011-12 fiscal year, with declining short-falls in revenue streams from the state.
| 
