URBANA — Champaign County officials are preparing for another lean budget year with revenue only $240,000 more than what was brought in two years ago.

And even that projection could prove to be optimistic; it includes money from zoning permits for a proposed wind farm development and the state fully funding its share of local officials' salaries. Neither one of those revenue items is a certainty.

If the wind farm clears regulatory hurdles and begins construction, it would yield the county treasury $100,000. The state aid for salaries amounts to another $170,000. That makes up for some of the recent losses in fees and permits.

The chairman of the county board's finance committee is standing behind the budget projections that will be voted on in November for the fiscal year that begins Dec. 1.

"We have two outstanding people watching our finances, and my advice to the county board would be, go with the administrators' plan," Urbana Democrat Brendan McGinty said of County Administrator Deb Busey and County Treasurer Dan Welch. "Let's listen to their advice."

Total revenue next year is projected at about $31.5 million, about 1.9 percent more than this year. Expenditures are projected at $31.66 million, leaving a deficit of about $166,000.

Busey had recommended increasing the current $20 marriage and civil union license fee to the state maximum of $75, which would provide $66,000 and reduce the deficit to about $100,000. But in a committee meeting earlier this week, board members voted to increase the fee only to $30, leaving the projected FY 2012 budget deficit at about $156,000. McGinty predicted there would be an effort to increase the fee to more than $30.

Not all of the budget news is gloomy: No personnel cuts are proposed, some departments are getting the first inflation-driven increases for commodities and services in two years, a number of county employees already have received pay raises for next year and collective bargaining is under way with nine separate employee unions representing another 300 workers. There's nearly $300,000 in a county contingency fund that could be used in part for pay raises.

Further, the county board heard presentations earlier this week from departments about possible capital improvements, new positions or programs. Twelve separate requests were heard, but board members agreed not to decide on any additions until February at the earliest, three months into the new fiscal year.

"We had been cutting for so long that I felt the county board needed an opportunity to look at what the departments and offices are saying they need for their long-term future operations," Busey said. "Part of the reason is that when we started this budget process, we weren't sure whether we'd be balanced, short or have some extra money. If there had been extra money, or if there is any extra money in the next few years, we need to have documented and prioritized what the needs are, rather than to recognize that there is extra money and someone walks in the door and gets it just because they got there first.

"The hope is that we do a better job of long-term planning and managing resources as they become available."

Of the 12 presentations made to the board, Busey said, her priorities were two one-time capital expenditures: $52,000 to replace a defective courtroom sound system and $155,000 for cameras in sheriff's department squad cars.

"At this point, we don't have any idea that we can take on anything other than one-time annual operating expenses because we don't have anything other than one-time operating revenue to cover it," she said.

Adding to the uncertainty, McGinty and Busey said, are new concerns about finances at the county nursing home. State Medicaid funds owed the nursing home are being delayed and could force the county to loan the facility money from the general fund.

"If the nursing home receives what it is owed, I think it's OK. The fear is just what happens if it doesn't receive what it is owed?" Busey said. "The nursing home has been treading water for two years, and I believe it can continue to do that or even start improving somewhat. But if it's not paid by the state, that's a different story."