CROWN POINT | Spending cuts recommended by the Good Government Initiative have been on the lips of many Lake County officials in recent months but are not reflected in the proposed 2008 budgets.

More than $5 million in job and spending reductions were suggested in a 1,059-page study issued five months ago by Maximus Inc., a Reston, Va., firm hired by BP, Mittal Steel, NiSource, U.S. Steel and Whiteco to make local government more efficient and less costly.

The report drew a mixture of praise and criticism from county government officials, who now have an opportunity to act on their feelings in their 2008 spending plans, which the County Council begins reviewing this month.

Those budgets, made public last week, call for at least $11 million in additional spending. The budgets also reflect a trend of ignoring job cut recommendations but following advice that could result in higher spending.

The Maximus study recommended the elimination of 20 full-time deputy auditors, 26 full-time deputy clerks and 26 full-time deputy treasurers, and salary increases for those remaining.

Budgets for those three offices would increase spending by a combined $2.7 million and offer no staff reductions.

Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, said he isn't surprised county officials aren't following Maximus' job cutting suggestions.

He said a county analysis of all Maximus recommendations adds up to more spending next year than savings because of large proposed infrastructure changes.

"Maybe in the long run it will reduce costs, but in the short term it doesn't," Blanchard said.

Maximus recommended the sheriff add 41 corrections officers to the county jail staff and the prosecutor add 23 new employees in his felony and child-support divisions.

The prosecutor's office followed suit by asking for 31 new jobs. Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez said last week he is delaying any staffing changes until he receives the results of a new examination of his staffing levels by a corrections institute.