Public hearing on county’s budget scheduled Monday
Published 12:10 am Sunday, June 5, 2016
Rowan County commissioners could finalize the coming fiscal year’s budget on Monday, when they’re scheduled to hold a work session and public hearing about the nearly $146 million spending plan.
In the currently proposed budget, Rowan County would slightly increase funding for education, but not enough for a requested 2-percent pay raise for teachers; fund roof replacements at multiple county facilities; split an estimated $2 million in new taxes on services such as car repairs equally between education and economic development; and provide funding to add a number of new paramedic positions in the Emergency Medical Services Department. The new paramedic positions would allow EMS to shorten the length of shifts from 24 hours to 12 hours.
In the 2016-2017 fiscal year budget, Rowan County also plans to also implement its pay plan, which gives close to half of employees some sort of boost. Social Services and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office are two areas where employees would see larger increases than most.
Rowan County’s budget, as proposed, doesn’t call for a tax increase.
Commissioners could make changes to the budget during their work session, scheduled for noon on Monday in the county administration building. It’s unlikely, however, that commissioners would make changes to the budget that would require a tax increase.
A public hearing on the budget will then occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday in the county administration building. Commissioners’ regular business meeting will start at 3 p.m. If it wraps up before 5:30 p.m., commissioners will recess until the public hearing.
Immediately after the public hearing, commissioners could vote to approve the fiscal year 2016-2017 budget.
The 2016-2017 fiscal year starts on July 1.
Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.