CADIZ — Harrison County commissioners approved the 2018 budget as they met for the last time in 2017 on Wednesday.

Commissioners Dale Norris, Don Bethel and Paul Coffland approved the 2018 spending plan at a regular meeting, preparing to ring in the new year in the county. The various items that the general fund budget covers include: the commissioners’ office, the county auditor’s office, the common pleas and county courts, the sheriff’s department and much more. The commissioners reallocate money as it is needed throughout the year.

The 2018 general fund budget totals $6,131,242.30, a decrease of $341,506 from 2017. It is the smallest general fund budget in the past five years, with the largest budget during that span having been approved in 2015 at a total of $11,655,526.

The 2018 budget includes a few departmental decreases, including one for the commissioners’ office. That line item went from $2,485,271 in 2017 to $2,095,069 for 2018. the sheriff’s department line item also decreased from $1,325,630 to $969,958.

A few line items increased, including money allocated for the auditor; for the common pleas, juvenile and county courts; and for the prosecutor, public defender recorder, treasurer and veterans.

Patrick Moore, county auditor, said the county ended 2017 within the budget, and commissioners said they have every reason to believe that will be the case again next year.

“Another year we ended it positively in the black, so that’s a good thing,” Moore said.

Commissioners also heard from Doug Crabtree, representing the Harrison County Engineer’s Office, who brought forth one last road use maintenance agreement for the year. The agreement is between the county and Utica Gas Services, which wishes to use 1 mile of County Road 51 to access a well site. Coffland asked if the company was aware of the condition of the road, which is reportedly already somewhat damaged. After a brief discussion, commissioners approved the RUMA.

“As long as they understand it needs to be in much better condition when they’re done,” Coffland said.

The Harrison County Board of Commissioners meets regularly at 10 a.m. Wednesdays at the Harrison County Courthouse in Cadiz.