SALISBURY — A public hearing has been scheduled for Rowan County’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-19.

The county commissioners voted Monday to hold a budget work session at 1 p.m  June 4. This will be followed by the board’s regular meeting at 3 p.m., with a public hearing to follow at 6 p.m.

County Manager Aaron Church said requested expenditures for the general fund for next year totaled about $193.7 million.

“That was a $44.339 million increase, … approximately a 30 percent increase from last year’s budget,” Church said.

If the county funded all requested items, Church said a 37-cent increase in the county tax rate would be necessary.

“It would raise the tax rate from 66 cents to $1.02 per $100 in valuation,” said Church.

But the requests have already been trimmed. The recommended budget, said Church, is now just under $152 million, a $2.6 million increase from last year’s budget, or 1.8 percent.

“The budget is balanced and fair in accordance with the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act,” he said, “The tax rate remains the same or unchanged at 66.25 cents.”

In other business from Monday’s agenda:

• Boy Scout Troop 448 led the Pledge of Allegiance.

• The commissioners approved a rezoning request by SS1 Fabrication LLC on Bringle Ferry Road from industrial with a conditional use district to neighborhood business district.

• The board approved an amendment of the zoning ordinance to create a definition for “Solid Waste and Recycling Convenience Center” and zoning districts where permitted.

The centers are now defined as “a facility operated by Rowan County for the purpose of fulfilling its solid waste and recycling service responsibilities to the public,” according to the zoning ordinance.

The centers typically include a structure for administrative operations and mobile containers used to collect and store local solid waste and recyclables until transported to an off-site location for disposal or processing.

The sites will be permitted in all zoning districts by right.

• The commissioners heard a presentation from students of North Rowan Middle School.

Students in a class taught by Angelia Flemming were tasked by Superintendent Lynn Moody during the 2017-18 school year to market Rowan County. The group presented its final project during the meeting.

A story about this presentation will be in Wednesday’s Post.