The Russell County Ambulance Board set a budget with $1.75 million in expected revenue, and appropriations for the coming year.

The budget estimated that in the present year $1.66 million was listed as income, which included $87,500 in borrowed funds.

The coming fiscal year's budget includes $395,850 in loans from other government agencies, and includes $202,000 in payments on short term debt.

The budget was approved, as a 3.7 percent cut from the originally proposed budget.

Terry Hancock, the ambulance service's interim director, said that staff cost of living raises and overtime had been cut, taking $42,000 out of labor costs. About $15,000 was cut from travel and training and in all about $68,680 had been trimmed.

Hancock reported that 911 Dispatch services were in the budget.

The board also asked its attorney, Athena Cooper, to press for a re-write of the interlocal agreement in order to avoid punitive actions from Frankfort.

The board was told that the auditor who had reviewed the agreement found it gave the ambulance board too much power over the Link NCIC board, which is charged with insuring the security of the National Crime Information Computer system. That is the system used by dispatchers to research outstanding warrants for police agencies.

By state law, all local government budgets must be submitted to Frankfort by the end of the present fiscal year, June 30th.