NATCHEZ — Marathon budget sessions this week have lead Adams County Supervisors to one hopeful idea — maybe, just maybe, taxes can be lowered.

After nearly 12 hours of budget work Tuesday, Board President Henry Watts said he’s sticking with his main objective of decreases spending and lower taxes.

“If the last third of the budget goes like the first two thirds, the likelihood of lowering taxes is a possibility.”

Watts said he believes that if the budget is organized as efficiently as possible the supervisors will actually be able to lower taxes.

“I believe we’re moving closer to that,” he said.

Supervisor S.E. “Spanky” Felter agreed.

“It’s possible,” he said. “And we’re getting close to finding out.”

But the tax cut isn’t final, and the budgeting process isn’t yet over.

Watts said the process was particularly tedious because the board was literally going through each line item to see where spending could be lessened or eliminated.

On Friday, Watts said approximately two thirds of the county’s 63 departments had been reviewed.

Of the departments already reviewed Watts said one theme has been obvious — they’re asking for more money.

“On average they’re looking for an increase,” he said.

Watts said of the departments already reviewed, approximately 60 percent wanted an increase in funding between 15-18 percent.

Watts did not say how many of those departments had received their requests.

Felter said he thinks this budget session is the most extensive and in-depth budget review that he has participated in.

“We’re spending a lot of time on it,” Felter said.

County administrator Cathy Walker has spent the latter part of the week continuing to search for areas of needless spending and calculating revenue projections to determine future spending.

Walker said the in-depth line item examination is normally done by the county administrator, not the supervisors, but since they have taken the initiative to do so, the county will benefit.

“It can only be a good thing,” she said. “This gives them a chance to see every little thing.”

The county’s budget must be adopted by Sept. 15 and goes in to effect on Oct. 1.