Whoever wins the governor's race will manage a dwindling budget upon taking office. Recent budget cuts proposed by Gov. Tim Kaine (D) could mean job cuts.

Chaz Evans-Haywood is clerk of the circuit court for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. His office faces a cut of more than 15 percent in funding from Richmond. That's about $70,000, which means three of the office's 14 jobs could go.

"When I'm looking at the staff, what do I say? 'Oh, here's a single mom. And here's another single mom. Here's this.' How do you make these decisions? This is probably going to be the worst decision I've ever had to make," says Evans-Haywood.

His office is not alone. Records show the Commonwealth's Attorney for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County has to cut more than $60,000.

The Rockingham County Sheriff has to cut more than $370,000.

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County officials are looking at what they can do.

"And they want to help, but I do also say it's not their responsibility," says Evans-Haywood.

Harrisonburg Mayor Kai Degner says there's also less local money.

"It's a matter of taking inventory, choosing our priorities and making some value judgments. There is money in savings, but we need to be very, very responsible about that money," says Degner.

At the courthouse, Evans-Haywood says the cuts could mean slower service and delays in the judicial process. People rely on his office for things such as marriage licenses, deeds and passports, among other things.

"I think [what] the folks need to know is that we are working hard to make sure that the services don't go away," says Evans-Haywood.

According to published reports in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, court clerks have already laid off about 20 percent of their employees because of these cuts. That's a similar number to what the local circuit court faces.

Members of the Harrisonburg City Council will discuss the various cuts in state funding at a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday.