An incentive package for completing renovation of the Lecompton bridge ahead of the Aug. 10 deadline was increased today by the Douglas County Commission.

The contractor, A.M. Cohron, will receive $10,000 for each day the job is completed early up to 15 days, or $150,000. A few weeks ago commissioners capped the incentives at 10 days or $100,000.

Commissioners Charles Jones said he thinks the 10-day incentive was reasonable and it may not be possible for the contractor to finish work any earlier than that.

“I was just wondering if it would be possible for them to finish it even faster,” Jones said. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but we can at least hold out the cash.”

Commissioners today also began preliminary discussions about planning the county’s 2008 budget. County Administrator Craig Weinaug said it will be difficult for the county to take on major new funding initiatives because county revenue will not increase as it has in the past.

Weinaug said the slower real estate market and slower growth in property values will affect revenue, as will the removal of the state’s machinery and equipment tax.

“Before we were always able to take on two or three (new) initiatives,” Weinaug said. “That will be increasingly difficult.”