The beginning of the budget: County starts budget discussion

County budget talks have begun.

The Alachua County Commission sat around a conference table Tuesday morning and threw around ideas about how to make the all-important cuts.

Commissioner Paula DeLaney said that she thinks the commission should axe — or at least decrease funding for — programs and services that are in low demand. She said she thinks the commission is least likely to cut from social services and county jail funding.

It would be more logical to decrease from programs that just are not "necessary right now," like the county's tree-planting program, said Commissioner Susan Baird.

The commission will begin discussing specific programs and services from which it will cut funding on March 20.