MADISON, Wis. -- Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk signed the Dane County budget Wednesday.

Falk said it's the toughest budget she has faced in 13 years. She said the national recession has had a profound effect on local communities, and all county agencies are taking a share of the pain.

"We have within those cuts prioritized, again, public safety and human services, knowing those are the services our citizens count on the most," Falk said.

There will be higher property taxes and cuts in some services in Dane County.

"I have increased taxes more than my normal standard. So has the County Board. We have asked our hard working 2,500 employees to take a 3 percent pay cut and they are," Falk said.

Dane County Board Chairman Scott McDonnell said the one saving grace of the budget is that there won't be any layoffs of county employees.

But Dane County sheriff's deputies are still fighting the budget and have not yet agreed to take the 3 percent pay cut.