Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk approved and signed the county’s 2010 budget — totaling roughly $490 million — Wednesday after approval Monday by the County Board.

Described by Falk as one of the most challenging budgets facing the county since the Great Depression, the budget was approved by Falk without a single veto.

“We see this next year’s budget as a significant but temporary challenge,” Falk said.

Falk portrayed the budget as having three distinct goals: to control spending, to protect public safety, and to maintain programs and positions offered by the Department of Human Services, as well as to maintain a fair and equitable budget. Falk described the former two as “priorities.”

All told, funding to DHS and public safety amounted to about 70 percent of the total budget, with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and DHS receiving $54 million and $53 million, respectively, according to Supervisor Brett Hulsey, District 4.

Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, at which the budget was passed, saw a significant and vocal turnout in favor of maintaining the funding for DHS. Much of Falk’s discussion Wednesday was centered on the county’s commitment to maintaining this funding.

“I think that in a year that has had as many economy-driven finance problems as this one, folks are certainly relieved that the budget continues to offer these vital positions and programs,” Falk’s spokesperson Joshua Wescott said.

Concern over retaining county employees was a major issue, Wescott said. With an uncertain financial future, many felt that certain positions may be eliminated, he added. As part of the budget, numerous vacant positions throughout the county were also eliminated.

“The one saving grace is that we are not laying off any county employees,” said County Board Chair Scott McDonell, District 1.

According to Falk, the county’s 2,500 employees and elected officials accepted a 3 percent cut in pay as part of the budget, amounting to a savings of nearly $4.7 million. Wescott stressed this year’s budget was characterized much by shared sacrifices, but that it managed to be slightly less than the previous year’s budget.

These cuts had garnered noticeable attention in recent weeks due to their opposition by various groups, namely the Sheriff’s Office.

“You’re faced with two choices: the complete restructuring of a good base of services or creative problem-solving in the hopes of keeping those services,” Wescott said. “Everybody giving a little allows us to maintain the services that we have offered in the past.”

Property taxes increased across much of the county, but this increase is very much a reflection of the financial atmosphere, Wescott said.

Although this current budget season has been challenging, Falk said that she was optimistic about the coming year’s budget and though hardships may arise, adaptations to the economic environment are taking place.