Howard County Commissioners will take a first look at next year’s budget when they hold a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor of the county courthouse.

At first glance, the new budget won’t be quite the headache to devise as it was this time last year, when unexpected expenses due to the county jail closure caused commissioners to slash and cut in several areas.

But “better” doesn’t necessarily translate to “easier,” County Judge Mark Barr said.

“It’s going to be tight; that’s why we’re starting on it early,” Barr said. “We’re still seeing an impact from the jail closing. It’s not going to be as big a nightmare as it was last year. We’ve got a little better idea of what we’re working with. But it’s still going to be tight.”

Barr is hopeful that an early start on budget work will help commissioners streamline the process well before adoption of the package this summer.

“We want to get the department heads in there,” he said. “We want their ideas on what positions we need to take care of ... and see what kinds of savings can be made.”

Also Tuesday, commissioners are expected to authorize the advertising of bids to begin work on the new county jail, which will be located on the west end of Big Spring.

Barr said the bids will be for foundation work at the site on W. Highway 80.

In other business, commissioners will consider:

• Personnel matters.

• Concession area proposals.

• Bids for sale of county equipment.

• Bids for aggregate and asphalt.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331, ext. 234 or by e-mail at