GOSHEN -- It was a pricey day at Monday's meeting of the Elkhart County Board of Commissioners.

They appropriated more than $3 million for a range of departments, operations and projects. Here are some highlights.

IT: The county's information technology system -- used to manage operations and communication in county government offices -- is getting a facelift and commissioners appropriated $445,000 as part of the process. The five-year effort, to finish in 2013, has a total estimated price tag of $6.04 million

Parallel to IT improvements, a new fiber optic network is being installed to connect 14 of the county's buildings in Elkhart and Goshen to improve communication and open broadband space for the private sector. County Administrator Tom Byers said later that the effort -- to have been done by last July, according to an earlier timeline -- continues. One of the sticking points has been getting permission from other utilities to string the cable on their utility poles.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: The county received $629,800 in federal stimulus funds earlier this year to make county buildings more energy efficient and commissioners earmarked $900,000 more from county coffers Monday to supplement that money.

Plans call for some $1.5 million in improvements to the county's courts building in Elkhart and the main administration building, county courthouse, public services building and work-release center, all in Goshen. The proposed improvements would lead to savings of perhaps $150,000 per year, according to an earlier estimate, and Byers now suspects the savings would be greater.

HIGHWAY DEPT.: Commissioners earmarked $450,000 in interest income earned off the local share of Major Moves roads funding for road improvement projects in 2010. The aim by appropriating the funding now was to lock it in for use for roads projects, said Jeff Taylor, the county transportation manager.

Officials appropriated another $580,000 in preparation for snow and inclement weather later this year and early in 2010. Some $300,000 is for road sale, $110,000 is for vehicle equipment and $100,000 is for diesel. Nearly $284,000 in reductions were made elsewhere, partially offsetting the appropriation.

LANDFILL: Commissioners approved the $598,472 purchase of equipment -- a compactor and a "dozer" -- to aid in handling of trash at the Elkhart County Landfill. The cost would be covered by tipping fees generated at the self-sustaining landfill.

The appropriations are subject to final approval by the Elkhart County Council.