Heads of counties in southeastern Minnesota will gather today at the Freeborn County Courthouse to discuss budget issues.

Administrators from Waseca, Rice, Goodhue, Dodge, Mower, Steele, Fillmore, Martin, Olmsted, Houston and Freeborn counties will attend the quarterly meeting.

Administrator Ron Gabrielsen said the meeting will serve as a forum to exchange information about the cost saving efforts of each member county.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed to slash the overall state aid for counties by $65,010,731 in 2003 and $114,373,254 in 2004. For Freeborn County, under the proposal, it would lose $415,000 this year and $769,000 next year.

The county board decided to form a special committee and appointed Commissioners Dan Springborg and Dan Belshan as the chairs.