LOWVILLE — Lewis County legislators plan to restore about half of the jobs slated to be cut and part of the proposed contractual agency funding in their 2009 budget.

Nine positions apiece at the Department of Social Services and Public Health that were on the chopping block should be restored, as should the emergency medical services coordinator job and four spots at the Community Recovery Center, lawmakers decided at a nearly six-hour budget session Friday.

All decisions Friday were informal, so changes to the tentative budget will need to be made by resolution at a special session of the Legislature at 5 p.m. Monday in the new legislative chambers on the second floor of the old courthouse.

All legislators attended except L. Kelley Dickinson, R-Harrisville, who participated by telephone.

The consensus of legislators Friday was to use somewhere between $900,000 and $1 million from the county's estimated $10 million fund balance to keep the levy increase at 3.5 percent. However, they also expressed hope that changes could be made within the next year to reduce personnel expenses in upcoming budgets.

"I'm just not willing year after year to use the fund balance," said Legislator Jerry H. King, R-West Leyden, who ran Friday's meeting as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

This year's budget used $1.8 million from the fund balance.

Legislators earlier this month directed County Manager David H. Pendergast to revise the proposed budget with a 3.5 percent cap on the tax levy increase and a 3 percent to 7 percent reduction in work force and related programs. In response, he rolled out a spending plan that would cut 52 positions and eliminate subsidies to most contractual agencies to reach the targeted levy increase.

The proposed DSS cuts were made in anticipation of the state immediately taking over Medicaid renewals, said Legislator Michael A. Tabolt, R-Croghan. "Now, we know that's not true," he said.

Some lawmakers asked if all nine positions are needed. Legislator Joyce E. Hoch, R-Watson, chairwoman of the Social Services Committee, suggested they are.

"I think with the hard times, they're going to be busier than ever," she said.

Legislators also plan to fund fully the Community Recovery Center, with the caveat that center Director William M. Burkhard work toward privatization within six months, and Public Health, with the caveat that its operation may be taken over by Lewis County General Hospital.

As for the EMS coordinator position, Legislator Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners, said he wasn't sure it needed to be full time. However, after hearing from volunteers, "I am convinced now that we need that position," he said.

The assistant district attorney and assistant public defender positions likely will remain out of next year's budget. Legislators suggested the positions should either both be cut or both restored to keep a balance between prosecution and defense.

And lawmakers — other than Mr. Tabolt and John O. Boyd, D-New Bremen — supported cutting them.

"We're trying to reduce the size and scope of county government," said Legislator Patrick F. Wallace, R-Lowville.

Mr. Wallace suggested the positions could be reinstated if needed.

Lawmakers plan to keep three part-time solid waste laborer positions out of the budget but suggested that — at a cost of $18,000 — they could be funded out of contingency if they're ultimately needed.

They also plan not to restore 17 part-time summer help positions and a light-equipment operator in the Highway Department. Mr. Tabolt and Mr. Boyd voted against cutting the latter position in an informal poll.

Legislator Charles R. Fanning, R-Copenhagen, suggested that legislators — after getting a better handle on possible state funding cuts — could add some summer workers this spring, if necessary and fiscally possible.

Legislators also plan not to restore a part-time civil process server and Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, officer at the Sheriff's Department. Mountain View Prevention Services also conducts drug prevention programs at local schools, Mrs. Hoch said.

A pair of provisional positions at Mental Health also would still be cut unless three positions suggested as alternatives by Director Toby K. Davis could be cut under Civil Service regulations.

Lawmakers plan to add $163,600 in contractual funding to the tentative budget, partially restoring $260,000 in cuts.

The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce would receive $50,000, up from $22,740 this year but below the $69,371 requested. "Every one of their functions is bringing people into the county," Mr. Lucas said.

While $30,000 was designated in this year's budget for Lewis County Search and Rescue and $8,000 for other ambulance squads, legislators plan to set up a $30,000 fund next year that could be tapped into by squads to cover advanced life support hook-ups. Guidelines for the payout program must be established.

Lewis County libraries would receive $25,000, down from $63,938 this year, as would the Lewis County Historical Society, which received $31,000 this year.

Mountain View would receive $10,000, down from $30,000. Other proposed funding would be $5,000 for the Lewis County Agricultural Society, $1,000 apiece for Constable Hall and the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board, $750 apiece for the American Maple Museum and Railroad Historical Society of Northern New York and $100 for the Lewis County Industrial Development Agency.

Legislators added $15,000 for the Lewis County Hospital Foundation, which wasn't funded this year.

The Lewis County Humane Society, Adirondack North Country Association and Lewis County Association of Sportmens Clubs would not be funded.

Mr. Fanning opposed many of the contractual agency proposals, suggesting more substantial cuts should be made to offset property taxes.