Douglas County department heads can expect county commissioners to be especially hard-nosed when it comes to approving budgets this year.

“I don’t want to see the mill levy go up, so we’re going to have to improve our belt-tightening,” Commissioner Charles Jones said during Wednesday night’s Commission meeting. “I’m going to be asking questions.”

At the same time, Jones and Commissioner Bob Johnson said the county should take a look at the needs in areas such as capital improvements, road enhancements, funding for industrial and green space through ECO2 and mental health programs at the county jail.

Jones and Johnson talked about the need for setting priorities and strategic spending. Commissioner Jere McElhaney was absent because he was attending an activity with his children.

Commissioners will begin discussing department budgets in preparing the county’s overall 2007 budget later this spring or early summer.