WAYNE COUNTY (WWJ) - The Wayne County Commission begins combing through County Executive Robert Ficano's $2 billion budget Tuesday.

The county has submitted a two-year budget for the first time ever. While ten percent salary cuts will stay in place, there are some new money-saving ideas on the table.

Ficano said the county will partner with the University of Michigan for some coroner duties.

"Our doctors would still perform the autopsies, but they can help us with some of the process and some of the testing that goes on. Over three years, this type of program would probably save us about $1.2 million," he said.

While he's not expecting any extra funding from Lansing, Ficano hopes state lawmakers will allow more flexibility in how those dollars can be spent. He's also looking at a bond issue for a new county jail.

"With a new design, you could go to what they call a center pod system, where the officers are in the middle and everything goes around the officer on the outside. And it does not make it as labor intensive. We have the technology now. Also, they can watch within the facility," he said.

Among other things, Ficano said he wants to work with vendors to expand the county's Meals on Wheels program.