By Mike Barnhardt
Enterprise Record

If the June 4 monthly meeting was any indication, county commissioners can expect a room full of residents when they hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 14 in the district courtroom of the county courthouse.
A proposal to cut $2.2 million from the appropriation to Davie County Schools by board members Carl Humphrey and Robert Wisecarver brought a dozen or so speakers to the June 4 meeting, and filled the room with concerned parents and educators.
The $76.7 million budget proposed by County Manager Beth Dirks includes the full $9.5 million requested for operational expenses requested by the schools – the same amount received last year.
Following are some of the other budget items highlighted by Dirks:
• 1 percent pay increase for all employees and a one-time $1,000 bonus in December;
• an increase in water and sewer rates;
• combining two part-time into one full-time position in the tax department;
• more part-time funds for EMS to take the training coordinator off the road;
• fund an E911 dispatcher from the general fund rather than the E911 fund;
• shift two positions from contract to full-time employees in home health; and
• a new part-time position for the library.
“This has been a difficult financial year for the county,” Dirks …