Belmont County officials are moving forward cautiously and hope to continue meeting the needs of the public in the wake of Tuesday's defeat of the county's social services levy.

Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services Director Dwayne Pielech told the board of commissioners Wednesday that the department will have to closely track spending and focus on core services in the face of its tightening budget.

The social services levy was put on the ballots after the Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services suffered cuts of about $1.5 million in state funding this year. The 10-year social services levy was designed to bring in an additional $900,000 a year to help provide vital services to children and older adults in need. Funds generated by the proposed levy would have made is possible to bring back some workers laid off from the DJFS this year and would have helped create a child advocacy center similar to Harmony House in Wheeling - a measure that has been in the works over the past few years in Belmont County.

Representatives of several local organizations and agencies were backing the county's social services levy and joined a coalition that launched a grassroots campaign to promote support for the measure, many of them going door-to-door to speak with residents of the county about the issue. However, the levy was defeated Tuesday.

''We're disappointed, on behalf of the coalition and the caregivers. This levy was a first for us. It's something we've never tried, said Pielech.

''It's hard to pass a levy these days, Commissioner Chuck Probst replied, noting that voters themselves - like local governments and businesses - have been feeling the pinch brought on by a struggling economy. ''We felt that this levy was a way to stay ahead of the curve. We'd like to thank you and the committee for the great effort you put behind it.

''We're going to continue doing what we've been doing, looking closely at where we are month-to-month ... , said Pielech, adding that the department will not be able to bring back employees whose jobs were cut this year. ''We'll continue our visitation program with a short staff.

Pielech said the county will have to rely on assistance from community partners such as churches and other organizations to help provide additional support for children and older adults in need.

In other action Wednesday, the board:

• Accepted a proposal from Danny Popp of DDP and Associates, Architects and Planners, for project manager services for the new Eastern Division Court building project in Bellaire in an amount not to exceed 1 percent of the cost of construction.

• Entered into a contract for administrative services with Belomar Regional Council in the amount of $138,700 to administer and implement the 2009 Belmont County Community Housing Improvement Program, effective now through Oct. 31, 2011. Belomar will also provide rehabilitation specialists services, including housing inspection, construction specification writing and inspections services, along with lead testing services.

• Approved a motion to enter into a grant agreement with the state of Ohio, Department of Development, for the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Community Housing Improvement Program, with a grant in the amount of $112,000 for the same period beginning Sept. 1.

• Passed a motion to enter into a grant agreement with the state of Ohio, Department of Development, for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, with a grant in the amount of $288,000 for the period from Sept. 1, 2009, through Oct. 31, 2011. This is the biennial agreement with the state of Ohio to be administered by Belomar.