Budget-cutting Douglas County commissioners say they are poised to shield services and programs that address public health and safety, but they won’t be adding to them either.

When nearly $1.5 million must come off the books to help fill a $1.7 million budget hole, they say, few categories can escape the financial knife.

“It doesn’t cripple the county at this point, but I think we’ve protected the most basic services,” County Administrator Craig Weinaug said.

Under a plan endorsed this week and set for formal approval Monday, commissioners this year would cut:

• $26,737 from emergency communications, mostly by refusing to finance the county’s share of hiring three new emergency dispatchers. The cuts include money for uniforms and training.
• $59,588 from Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical by declining to finance the county’s share of hiring three new firefighter/paramedics.
• $44,154 for salaries in the Sheriff’s Office by replacing two captain positions with two new deputies.

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“We’re all doing more with less,” said Sheriff Rick Trapp, who is consolidating administrative duties to keep deputies on the street.

Trapp already has put the first part of the cuts in action. Last month he promoted Capt. Ken McGovern to major and undersheriff, replacing Bill Shepard, who retired.

But McGovern didn’t shed his captain’s responsibilities. McGovern remains administrator for the Douglas County Jail, only with the added administrative responsibilities of undersheriff.

Later this year, Trapp said, another captain’s post will become and remain vacant when patrol Capt. Bob Van Hoesen retires.

The moves will allow the department to add two deputies to help respond to a growing list of calls and keep tabs on an expanding rural population.

“Everybody’s working a little harder,” Trapp said.

The cuts — part of nearly $1.5 million in spending reductions — are scheduled to be approved without discussion during the commission meeting, set for 9 a.m. Monday at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass.