MOUNT VENRON — After the struggles of devising a compromise budget for 2010, Knox County Sheriff David Barber and the Board of Commissioners were pleased with their first joint review of the year.

“For the first quarter of the year, I think we’re in good shape,” Barber said.

The economic recession of recent years forced the county to cut back all departments, including the sheriff’s office, first in 2009 and again in 2010. Monday’s meeting showed the sheriff’s office in good stead through March.

Barber said he and his staff were keeping an close eye on the rising cost of gasoline, which may surge as nation moves toward the summer. Overtime has also been kept to an absolute minimum, and no unusual expenses have come in so far this year, Barber said.

County Commissioner Allen Stockberger said it was good that the cut-back budget is proving sufficient, as the county’s bond advisors have said flat budgets are likely to be the rule for the next three to five years. He said that although the county’s numbers for the first quarter aren’t yet settled, it does look like everything is staying on the predicted track. He added that the slight slowdown in home foreclosures lately might be a sign of the recession bottoming out in Knox County.