MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KKCO) - Mesa County Commissioners gave their final approval to the 2010 budget Monday, agreeing to the biggest cuts in decades.

County officials say with tax revenues taking a major hit this year, cuts had to be made. The initial proposal, presented in October, would have cut nearly $26 million from next year's budget. After crunching the numbers, the final cut won't be as deep. Commissioners cut a little less than $13 million.

It's been decades since Mesa County had to make budget cuts of this magnitude. "We haven't seen this sort of reduction since the early 80s," says Marci Arhnold, Mesa County finance director.

Mesa County tax revenues are projected to be down more than 21 percent this year and with less money coming in, there's not as much to spend. That means cutting jobs. "The most difficult decision had to do with county positions," says County Administrator Jon Peacock.

The county departments that took the hardest hit deal with the housing market. Positions in building inspections, planning and public works were streamlined. "We were able to make reductions in those areas with out impacting service levels," says Peacock. Thirty-three positions were eliminated to balance the budget. Fortunately for staff, most of those positions were already vacant. In the end, 11 workers were laid off. "We didn't want to make those layoffs but we have to make those tough decisions," says Arnhold. Of the 11 workers that had to be laid off, the County hopes to be able to keep five or six of those them to fill other vacant positions.

More cuts were made in internal operations such as training, 401K matching and benefits. The Health Department also took a cut. "You may see changes in operating hours of service, those sorts of things," says Peacock.

But officals say it's not all bad news. Some areas will actually get more money. "Criminal justice services will have an increase of just over four percent" says Peacock. That increase will help handle the over-crowding problem in the Mesa County Jail as well as finance the development of alternative sentencing.

Other good news, a tax cut to help local businesses. "To give a break to businesses that are struggling and to make us more competitive for businesses to move here," says Peacock. This cut means less revenue now, but the possibility of more down the road.

The new budget will take effect Jan. 1.