By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

The Saluda Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing and special meeting Monday to adopt the city’s fiscal year 2015-2016 budget.

The proposed budget is consistent with the current year budget, with no property tax increases nor increases to the water/sewer rates.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners approved a 1-cent tax increase for Saluda Township residents for the fire tax, from 7.5 cents to 8.5 cents.

The city’s property tax rate is proposed at the same as this year’s tax rate of 6.05 cents per $100 of property valuation. That rate includes 5.4 cents for property taxes and 6.5 cents for the fire tax.

Renovations at the city hall and police department are complete with the city budgeting $40,490 for debt service for the renovations next year.

There are no staffing increases proposed for next year with employees to receive a 1.7 percent salary increase beginning on July 1.

The city has also made adjustments to next year’s budget for Polk County to begin collecting the city’s property taxes. Payments to the county have been allocated in the budget.

The police department budget continues with the same staffing of a chief, sergeant and two patrol officers.

The city’s water/sewer department also keeps the same staffing for a supervisor and two maintenance positions.

Saluda’s water/sewer rates include a $7.50 per month per user fee for the water line that connects Saluda to Tryon and Columbus.

Saluda’s public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday with a 6 p.m. special meeting called to consider adopting the new budget. The new budget year begins July 1.