By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Commissioners anticipate hearing from a large crowd of school supporters during the budget hearing Monday night.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will hold the hearing on the 2010 budget, which keeps the tax rate at 59.5-cents per $100 valuation.
Commissioners have reached agreement on most issues, leaving a couple on the table.
The issue likely to draw a large crowd of teachers is whether the county should allow the Rowan-Salisbury Schools to convert $375,000 allocated for classroom supplies to retaining teaching positions.
The budget keeps the current rate of funding for both the Rowan-Salisbury and Kannapolis Schools.
Another issue that might not be off the table is whether to cut two building inspectors and whether to continue the freeze on hiring after July 1.
Commissioners will consider holding a special meeting later this month to approve the budget, but could act Monday night following the hearing.
In other matters, the board will:
– Approve a watershed waiver for placing a three-bay West Rowan fire station at 235 Back Creek Church Road. The project is in the Back Creek/Sloan Creek watershed.
– Discuss the Rowan-Kannapolis ABC system finances and operations. Commissioner Tina Hall, liaison to the ABC Board, will update commissioners.
– Consider a proposal from Vice Chairman Jon Barber that all future incentive grant awards for companies require that no illegal aliens be hired for the construction phase. He is also proposing that all future county building contracts require compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
– Consider posting minutes of county-appointed boards on the county’s Web site to make the information more available to citizens.
– Consider approving an agreement between the Federal Highway Administration, N.C. Department of Transportation and the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office related to the widening of I-85 and the Trading Ford Historic District. The item is on the consent agenda and not scheduled for discussion.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the the Cohen Administrative Offices Building, 130 W. Innes St.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.