COLUMBUS – The Polk County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, June 5 to hear comments from residents about the upcoming budget proposal.

The public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, with commissioners scheduled to adopt the new budget during the following meeting on June 19.

The county’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2017-2018 is for a total of $28,848,595.

The recommended tax rate is for 52.94 cents per $100 of valuation, which is a reduction from the current tax rate of 53.75 cents because of the recent property revaluation, which was effective Jan. 1.

Commissioners had previously planned on increasing taxes next year by two cents following a two-cent increase the current budget year in order to pay debt service on a $13 million loan to construct a new law enforcement center. Commissioners instead decided to reduce the tax rate slightly, in order to go revenue neutral next year, meaning the county will take in the same revenues in property taxes as this year.

The draft budget includes using $546,676 worth of fund balance, or reserves, to pay for one-time capital expenses.

Major capital expenses next year include $201,740 for the sheriff’s office’s new vehicles and capital needs; $134,000 for two new vans for the transportation department, of which the state will reimburse all but $13,702; $89,000 for the recreation department for lights at Searcy Field; $50,000 for solid waste to purchase recycling bins, an overhead building and grading work at the old Little Mountain Landfill; $90,446 for the jail to purchase a van, handheld radios and Tasers for the new jail facility; $36,000 for animal control to purchase a truck cab and chassis to replace the existing truck; $34,924 for the department of social services (DSS) to purchase a vehicle, computers, printers, tablets and scanners (the county will be reimbursed all but $15,716); $30,736 for building inspections to purchase a new vehicle for the new inspector; $25,984 for EMS that includes the purchase of a quick response vehicle; $18,290 for MIS to upgrade servers and equipment and $10,000 for a replacement utility cart at the recreation complex.

The county also plans to reserve $250,000 for future repairs to the Turner Shoals Dam at Lake Adger.

Personnel changes are expected to include the new sheriff’s office employing 12 new jail positions beginning halfway through the new fiscal year.

Polk County EMS is also proposed to hire an additional position, which would give the county 24/7 coverage with two EMTs per truck.

The current part-time tourism director position is proposed to go to full-time next year.

County employees will receive a merit-based, one-time payment incentive, according to the draft budget, effective Jan. 1, 2018.

All six county fire departments are also proposed to remain at revenue neutral tax rates.

The new budget year will begin July 1.

The full budget message can be viewed at polknc.org on the homepage under “Latest county news.”

The county’s regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday following the public hearing and a budget work session.

Major capital expenses next year include:

► $201,740 for the sheriff’s office’s new vehicles and capital needs

► $134,000 for two new vans for the transportation department, of which the state will reimburse all but $13,702

► $89,000 for the recreation department for lights at Searcy Field

► $50,000 for solid waste to purchase recycling bins, an overhead building and grading work at the old Little Mountain Landfill

► $90,446 for the jail to purchase a van, handheld radios and Tasers for the new jail facility $36,000 for animal control to purchase a truck cab and chassis to replace the existing truck

► $34,924 for the department of social services (DSS) to purchase a vehicle, computers, printers, tablets and scanners (the county will be reimbursed all but $15,716)

► $30,736 for building inspections to purchase a new vehicle for the new inspector

► $25,984 for EMS that includes the purchase of a quick response vehicle

► $18,290 for MIS to upgrade servers and equipment

► $10,000 for a replacement utility cart at the recreation complex

► $250,000 in reserve for future repairs to the Turner Shoals Dam at Lake Adger