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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- This week the Adair County Sheriff has met with the county commissioners to have a first read of next year's operating budget.

Sheriff Robert Hardwick told KTVO that there will be a different approach to the process this year.

”We're looking at all the items in the budget line by line this year.  We have an increase in employee medical insurance for the county," Hardwick said.

Hardwick told KTVO those costs have risen 47for this year.

Hardwick also wants to purchase replacement vehicles.  Over the last two years several vehicles have been replaced and he told KTVO those purchases have actually helped keep costs down.

”We cut our vehicle maintenance down this year compared to 2009.  It was over $27,000 in 2009.  It's right around a little over $18,000," Hardwick explained.

Another area of concern for Sheriff Hardwick is re-painting the jail.  He told KTVO the jail area hasn't been painted since it was built back in 2002 and is starting to show wear.

Hardwick told us that this process has just begun.

"We'll have several meetings between now and the time the budget is finalized and go over the numbers, go over the line items on the budget and work out a process of things that we're allowed to get, things that we can get and also we're happy here, the citizens are taken care of, and also the commissioners approval," said Hardwick.