by Scotty Wampler
News Editor 
  A June 25 public hearing to consider the approval of Buchanan County's proposed 2007-08 budget was set Monday.
  The Board of Supervisors met Monday morning to hear comments from the public regarding the $44.7 million budget proposal.
  Details of the upcoming fiscal year's budget were determined during a series of work sessions over the past several weeks. As it stands proposed, major expenditures in the upcoming budget include $4,183,236 for law enforcement, $4,175,750 for the public works department, $2,407,553 for planning and community development and $1,580,217 for judicial administration.
  Other miscellaneous expenditures in the proposal include $1,064,595 for general county administration, $439,314 for the health department, $432,568 for parks and recreation and $315,000 for highways, streets and bridges.
  Proposed tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year include $0.43 cents for real estate and mobile homes (a decrease of six cents); $1.95 for personal property; $1.95 for machinery and tools; and $2 for merchants capital. All proposed tax rates are per $100 of assessed value.
  The board also agreed to weave pay raises of $1,500 across-the-board for county employees into the proposal. The $1,500 figure was decided on after County Administrator W.J. Caudill averaged the salaries of non-constitutional county positions based on the four-percent raise already announced by the state for constitutional officers. That figure -- $1,330 -- was rounded up to $1,500 by the board.
  Similarly, the county school system built $1,500 across-the-board raises for its employees into its budget request of $9,129,783 presented to the supervisors in May.
  The county expects to receive around $15.7 million in general property taxes in the upcoming fiscal year, as well as just over $14 million for other local taxes.
  The balanced proposal totals $44,733,174.
  On Monday, two county residents approached the board to express concerns regarding recent property reassessment figures.
  "Most of our people are elderly, disabled or work for minimum wage," said Josie Blankenship. "Nobody should have to let something go to pay tax bills."
  Blankenship, who is running for commissioner of revenue as a Republican, said people have asked her why their tax bills have increased as much as $400.
  "They've doubled the taxes on my home," said Ray Davis, also in attendance for the meeting. "That's not right."
  "I think there should be a level," he added. "Treat everybody equally."
  Assistant County Attorney Lee Moise said the issue of equal tax assessment for property countywide should be brought before the county's equalization board, which handles such matters. That board has yet to formally organize, North Grundy Chairman Carroll Branham added. Moise said after the equalization board organizes this summer, it will announce meetings open to the public where property tax reassessment concerns can be heard.
  The Monday, June 25 public hearing, where the board is expected to approve the 2007-08 budget, is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the board's regular meeting room in the Buchanan County Courthouse.

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