FARMINGTON – County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a $1.36 million 2009-10 budget for the Sheriff’s Department and $586,475 for the dispatch emergency communications center.

The amounts were slightly less than sheriff’s officials recommended.

The budget needs to go before a Budget Committee consisting of selectmen from towns in Franklin County.

A bottom line for the commissioners’ recommended budget was not finalized as of early afternoon Tuesday.

This new budget includes insurances and other benefits in each department’s budget that weren’t included in previous years, making it difficult to compare to the 2008 budget.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Ray Meldrum requested an additional $7,000 be included in the vehicle line to bring that amount to $72,000.

Commissioners approved buying three cruisers, including four-wheel-drive vehicles, earlier this month, that totaled nearly $65,000. In previous years, that amount has covered outfitting the vehicles with police gear such as lights.

Meldrum is hoping that by selling the cruisers that would normally be traded, they will make enough to set up the new vehicles.

However, commissioners did not agree to add the additional $7,000 to the budget. The request may still go to the Budget Committee.

Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay told Meldrum that he did a good job keeping the budgets lean.

However, McGrane did make the recommendation to cut $10,000 from the overtime dispatch line in the communications budget from Meldrum’s proposed $596,475.

Commissioners voted 2-1, with Meldon Gilmore of Freeman Township opposed, to reduce the overtime line despite Meldrum’s objections. The money is used to pay replacement dispatchers when other dispatchers are being trained or on vacation.

He disagreed with McGrane about the reduction and told him he was not comparing correct figures.

But McGrane said he was using correct figures.

Meldrum told McGrane that he was not going to argue with him. When McGrane asked him another question, Meldrum told him he was done talking to him.

Meldrum said he has been doing the budget for several years, and they are still budgeting at near the same amount as in 2005, except for contractural agreements.

Some years you have good years and don’t use all the money, he said, and some years you do use it. You cannot budget for a perfect year, he said.

“At some point, it’s going to bite you in the ass,” Meldrum said.

“It’s over-budgeted and under-expended,” McGrane said of the line.

Commissioners voted to approve the budget at $586,475.