By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

COLUMBIANA — The Shelby County Commission passed a conservative budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year during the Sept. 27 meeting.

The total budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year is set at about $81.8 million, a drop from last year’s budget of $84.8 million.

The next fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

County Finance Manager Butch Burbage stressed that the budget is a conservative one.

In an earlier interview, Burbage said there are no step raises or cost-of-living raises in the budget, but the county also doesn’t expect any layoffs. The county is leaving 33 positions unfilled.