Douglas County commissioners know how much they intend to spend next year. Now they just need to figure out where to get the money.

Monday, commissioners are scheduled to review revenue availability for the county’s proposed 2004 budget.

As amended last week by commissioners, the proposed budget calls for spending $45.38 million next year on county operations.

It would need an estimated property-tax levy of 30.35 mills, or enough to cost the owner of a $150,000 home $524 in taxes for next year. A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed valuation.

The county’s tax rate would be up 2.54 mills, or 9.1 percent, from this year.

County commissioners say they want to investigate possibilities for reducing the estimated increase.

One way would be to adjust the projections for collections of sales taxes. Boosting revenue estimates would give commissioners additional money — on paper, at least — to allow for a reduction in the need for money from property taxes.

But if the new projections shoot too high, and not enough money is collected, the county would have to dig into reserve funds.

Another idea, suggested by Commissioner Charles Jones, would be to offset part of the need for property taxes by spending some of the $675,000 now being held in reserve for ambulance purchases. Jones considers the reserve fund to be “overbuilt” by about $500,000.

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While reserve funds often provide tempting targets, Commission Chairman Bob Johnson cautioned that raiding those funds wouldn’t be a free ride.

“The nice thing about reserve funds is you can use them,” Johnson said. “The bad thing is if you use them, you have to put them back.”

Monday’s meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Commissioners intend to finish their preliminary budget discussions Monday, then make the entire document available for public review in time for a formal public hearing Aug. 13.