Following a lengthy discussion on whether to appeal a prayer lawsuit, only two members of the public spoke during a public hearing for Rowan County’s fiscal year 2016 budget.

The two people who spoke during the public hearing were Don Gobble, who lives in the Millers Ferry Fire District, and Rowan County Democratic Party Chairman Geoffrey Hoy. Gobble spoke about fire taxes. Hoy asked the commissioners to look for ways to give Rowan County teachers pay supplements.

Gobble recommended that Rowan County Commissioners not approve a proposed 1 cent tax increase for the Millers Ferry Fire Department. He cited an increase in Millers Ferry Fire Chief Bobby Fox’s pay and the purchase of a fire boat as reasons that the increase wasn’t needed.

“The chief said he couldn’t operate without a 2-cent increase, (the board) voted to give him 1 cent and they turned around to give him a 50 percent raise and bought a $100,000 fire boat,” Gobble said. “He must have not needed the money too bad.”

He asked that commissioners deny the 1 cent per $100 raise, and instead approve a rate that would be revenue neutral, meaning the fire department would receive an identical tax revenue amount to the current budget year. According to Rowan County’s proposed budget, a revenue-neutral tax rate for the fire department would be about seven-tenths of a cent per $100.

During a budget work session earlier this month, multiple Rowan County commissioners said proposed increases in fire taxes were too high.

Hoy said: “if you’re going to put you’re neck on the line for something” such as a tax increase, it should be for the children of Rowan County. Hoy said a lot of residents of Rowan County would support a tax increase if it were for school children.

“Whatever you can do to increase the county supplement to teacher salaries, amen, hallelujah, they’re worth it,” Hoy said. “They’re worth it because children are worth it.”

Rowan County Manager Aaron Church’s recommended budget proposes a tax rate increase of 1.25 cents per $100. It’s a revenue neutral rate.

The recommended budget includes $800,000 in additional money — compared to the prior year — to be used for the school system’s current expenses, which include salaries and supplements. The total, proposed current expense budget for the school system in fiscal year 2016 is $32.98 million

County commissioners on Monday didn’t take any action on the fiscal year 2016 budget, which starts on July 1. Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds said commissioners plan to publicly discuss the coming year’s budget during the next regularly scheduled meeting on June 15.

In other business from Monday’s meeting:

• Commissioners approved a contract with Trinity Food Services to provide meals at the Rowan County Jail.

Trinity Food Services is currently under a temporary contract to provide food to inmates at the Rowan County Jail.

In a staff report, purchasing agent David Sifford said Trinity submitted the lowest bid that met staffing requirements. The proposed prices per meal for Trinity are $1.18, $1.20 and $1.23 for fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively.

• Commissioners approved a conditional use permit that allows a horse riding stable facility on the 600 block of Mayberry Lane.

• Commissioners approved a rezoning of approximately 2.02 acres at 4780 E. N.C. Highway 152 from Rural Agricultural to Neighborhood Business.

• Commissioners approved a rezoning of 2.26 acres located at 2604 Heilig Road from Rural Residential to Commercial, Business, Industrial.

• Commissioners made board appointments.

Randy Lawrence Baker was appointed a pilot representative to the Airport Advisory Board. Dink James Safriet was appointed as a business representative.

Carl M. Short, Jr. was re-appointed to the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Board of Trustees.

David Post was appointed to the Rowan Public Library Board and the Centralina Economic Development Committee.

Pete Bogle was appointed to the Rowan County Planning Board.