By Natalie Anderson
natalie.anderson@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will spend most of Monday discussing the 2020-21 proposed budget in addition to the regular 3 p.m. meeting, starting with a budget work session around lunch time and a public hearing following the regular meeting.

To start the busy day, commissioners will meet virtually at 1 p.m. to begin discussing the proposed budget, which amounts to $176.4 million in expenditures, with $153.5 million from the general fund. That’s a 4% reduction from the previous year, where the general fund budget was $159.48 million.

Citizens are able to join the budget work session by visiting https://bit.ly/rowanbudget2021 and entering password 06012020. The meeting can be joined by phone by dialing 602-753-0140 or 720-928-9299 or 213-338-8477, with Webinar ID 923-5252-3425 and Password 06012020.

The proposed budget, which must be adopted by July 1, includes an estimated 9.5% reduction in sales tax revenue, which amounts to a $2.5 million loss.

If adopted, the budget will not raise taxes and will maintain the 65.75 cents per $100 in valuation rate.

Commissioners will meet at 3 p.m. for the regular meeting then recess before holding a virtual public hearing at 6 p.m. for the proposed budget. Speakers at the public hearing will be allowed three minutes to address the board. Additionally, the public can submit comments during the meeting or via email at budget.hearing@rowancountync.gov. Emailed comments will be accepted until June 5 at 5 p.m.

Citizens can tune in to the regular meeting by visiting https://bit.ly/rowanboc0601 and entering password 06012020. The public can also join by phone by dialing 602-753-0140 or 720-928-9299 or 213-338-8477, with Webinar ID 955-1821-6748 and password 06012020.

Other items at the regular meeting include:

• A request to approve a contract for no more than $886,800 with Salcoa Construction to construct a new concession stand at Dan Nicholas Park, as well as approve the accompanying budget amendment.
• A notice of intent from the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, Inc., to apply for the Community Service Block Grant CARES NC Act Supplemental Funding for 2020-22 for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. The total amount of funding to be requested is $701,028, with $334,229 allocated to Rowan County. The agency intends to use the funds for families whose economic circumstances have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
• The scheduling of a public hearing for Z 01-20 for June 15. Property owners Mark and Lorin Oden are petitioning to rezone their 8.36-acre tract to accommodate a pier and dock construction business for their property located in the 8600 block of Bringle Ferry Road.

Contact reporter Natalie Anderson at 704-797-4246.