Doing more — a lot more — with less.

Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., told the Lawrence County Commission Tuesday the rise in crime is having an impact on his staff just the same as it does other law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in the county.

Still, he’s asking for only slightly more money in 2010 than what he is projected to spend in 2009.

Collier is requesting $868,333 to operate his office. His office is projected to spend $851,002.61 in general fund monies by the time this year ends.

While his costs may be going up only slightly, his workload is increasing at a much more rapid pace.

In 2008, 3,323 criminal cases were filed either by the grand jury, one of the county’s two municipal courts or by the Lawrence County Juvenile Court.

Some facts from the prosecutor’s office:

— The number of criminal cases handled by Ironton Municipal Court increased by 113 from 2006-2008. The figures for 2009 are not yet available.

— The number of criminal cases handled by Lawrence County Municipal Court increased by 402 from 2006 to 2008. In 2006, the court in Chesapeake handled 1,197 criminal cases; in 2008 that figure was 1,599.

— The Lawrence County Juvenile Court handled 368 criminal cases involving youths in 2006; 281 in 2007 and then 319 in 2008.

Collier pointed out the criminal work is completed in addition to requests for civil assistance by the county and its 14 townships.

Collier told the commission while the workload is increasing, the number of shoulders to bear that workload has shrunk.

Three part-time positions were eliminated this year, leaving a reduction in his salaries line item.

A staff attorney, a clerk and a grant-funded investigator have not been replaced in recent years as well.

To make ends meet, the prosecutor’s office does apply for grants to fund drug investigations, training, victim’s advocacy and other crime prevention endeavors.

Collier’s visit was the last in a series of budget hearings the commission has undertaken this month in an before nailing down a 2010 budget.

“This was to find out the different needs the different offices have,” Commissioner Jason Stephens said. “For example, in this situation (the prosecutor’s office) they do have some grant funding coming in and that will help.”

Stephens last week offered fellow commissioners a draft budget that included a 7 ½ percent cut in each office’s salaries line item.

Commissioners have said they want to have a 2010 budget in place before 2009 ends so each officeholder will what they have to work with in the coming year.

County officials are working with less money this year than in previous years and anticipate cuts in state funding, interest income and sales tax revenues next year as well.