By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

Polk County residents will have a chance to voice their opinions on Monday regarding the county’s proposed 2015-2016 budget, which begins July 1.

The public hearing is scheduled at the beginning of the board of commissioners’ regular meeting on Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m.

Highlights for next year’s budget include the county preparing for the 2017 property revaluation, proposing up to five-percent merit increases for employees in January, reserving $50,000 for future Turner Shoals Dam repairs, plans to add new positions and a significant increase in occupancy tax revenues because of the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).

Commissioners worked through the budget requests during two budget work sessions held on May 18 and 19.

Fire department tax increases

The budget proposal includes no property tax increases but a recommendation for slight increases in two of the county’s six fire districts.

Tryon, Columbus, Saluda and Mill Spring Fire Departments requested increases in their fire tax. The recommendation from County Manager Marche Pittman is a 1.5 cent increase in Tryon’s fire tax and a one-cent increase in Saluda’s fire tax only. Tryon requested a 3-cent increase, Columbus requested a ½ cent increase, Mill Spring requested a 1.5-cent increase and Saluda requested a one-cent increase. The increases will not be final until commissioners agree on each fire department’s tax rates.

Capital purchases

Commissioners have agreed to take capital expenditures out of the general fund balance for next year’s budget, as the board has done the past couple of years. The proposal is to take more than $500,000 out of fund balance for capital expenditures, including major equipment and vehicles.

The largest capital expenditures will include $249,300 for the sheriff’s office for vehicles, walkie talkies, mobile radios, computer, in-car cameras, tasers and body vests.

The courthouse budget includes $71,790 in capital for a panic button system, metal detectors and sound-proofing and updating equipment for acoustics in the courtroom.

The library budget includes $52,015 in capital for a new vehicle and technology and equipment.

The tax department budget includes $29,219 in capital for a computer and truck for a new tax appraiser.

The maintenance budget includes $22,000 in capital to replace the impound lot fence and courthouse doors.

The communication budget includes $19,486 in capital for plan/consulting grant administration for a new 911 center.

Several departments will be receiving new computers next fiscal year.

New employees

The county is proposing several new employees next fiscal year.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is proposed to receive a new employee to serve as a security deputy at all times in the courthouse.

A new tax assessor is being budgeted because of increased need as well as the county beginning its property revaluation during the 2015-2016 budget year.

Polk County EMS requested three new employees and the recommendation is to hire one additional employee.

The Polk County Department of Social Services (DSS) is proposed to hire an income maintenance supervisor III employee.

Polk County Tourism will be reinstating the director’s position to full-time and transferring an employee from economic development to tourism.

The tourism department is self-funded through the county’s occupancy tax revenue, which is expected to more than double next fiscal year, mainly from the TIEC. This year’s budget is $85,042 and the recommended budget for next year is $160,599. The tourism department requested a budget of $179,629, saying that estimate was conservative.

The Polk County Tag office will also be getting another part-time employee. The addition will bring the new tag office to two part-time employees and one full-time employee.

Economic Development Director Robert Williamson requested to become a full-time county employee next fiscal year but the recommendation is to keep that position as a contracted position for next year.

Sheriff’s office salaries

Most sheriff’s office employees, excluding Sheriff Donald Hill, will see an increase in salary next year with an adjustment to steps and grades for the majority of officers and administrative employees.

The increases will equate to $45,999 for the sheriff’s office employees’ base salaries (not including benefits), with the jail administrator receiving an additional $2,175 in base salary and three SRO officers receiving a combined $6,435 for a total salary increase of $54,609 for the sheriff’s office budget. The employees will also be eligible for proposed merit increase next year.

Merit raises

The budget proposes all employees to be eligible for merit increases on Jan. 1, 2016. The increases will be up to five percent depending on the employee’s performance. Employees will either receive a zero percent increase, a 2.5 percent increase or a five percent increase. Polk County recently hired a human resource officer and this will be the first year of implementing merit increases as opposed to the usual across the board cost of living raise.

Polk County Manager Marche Pittman is scheduled to present his balanced budget recommendation to commissioners during a special meeting at 8 a.m. today, Friday, May 29.

Monday’s public hearing and meeting will be held in the second floor meeting room of the Womack building in Columbus.

Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the new budget during a special meeting on June 15.