County commissioners unanimously approved a 2008 budget this morning, finalizing a spending plan that includes a 7.1 percent tax hike.

The new tax rate means a homeowner with a property assessed at $145,000 — the county average — will pay $495 in real estate taxes next year, or $33 more than this year.

The tax hike had originally been pegged at 7.3 percent, but was whittled down since the budget was first unveiled last month, saving the average homeowner $1.

"We're happy we got it down as far as we did," said County Administrator Mark Esterbrook, adding that extra savings came from further shrinking some department budgets and adding year-end cash.

The 2008 budget — which boosts the county millage rate to 3.416 from last year's 3.189 — outlines spending of $284.1 with revenues of $277.4 million. The county plans to use reserves to cover the difference.

All three commissioners spoke briefly before voting on the budget.

Commissioner Molly Henderson said she was pleased with the final numbers, which started out "pretty gloomy."

"It is certainly not anyone's desire to increase taxes," Henderson said, while adding that hard choices had been made to get to the final amounts.

Commissioner Sharron Nelson said she is conscious that many residents will also be paying more next year in school and municipal taxes and hoped future county commissioners would take a closer look at grants awarded by the county.

"If there is a discretionary area —that I think we have a responsibility to continue to set strong criteria for — it is in the whole area of the grants," she said.

Commissioner Dick Shellenberger said "hard decisions" had been made to reach the final budget, pointing out that $2 million of county money was spent this year to repair bridges, which contributed to the tax increase.

Other new items in the budget include $5 million to help renovate the Queen Street Amtrak Station and $2.5 million for a new prison medical services provider, approved earlier this year.

The commissioners held the line on taxes in 2006, following increases of 10 percent in 2005 and 12.6 percent in 2004.

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