Ricky Harris

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LUMBERTON — The Robeson County Board of Commissioners on Monday will hold a public hearing on it proposed fiscal year budget for 2013-14 beginning at 6 p.m. at the county administration building on North Elm Street.

The public is invited at that time to comment on the budget.

The budget proposal of about $145.5 million, which includes a General Fund of about $107 million, calls for the property tax rate to remain at 77 cents per $100 of property value, includes a 2 percent cost of living increase for county employees, and raises the cost of water from 5 percent to 7 percent. It also call for an increase in the cost of some ambulance services.

According to County Manager Ricky Harris, appropriations for Lumberton Municipal Airport, Robeson Community College, COMtech and the Robeson County Public Library will increase from the current fiscal year. COMtech will receive an additional $40,000, the library an additional $50,000 and RCC an additional $100,000.

Harris said that $92,000 is being set aside as matches to two grants that the airport is seeking. The money will not be spent if the airport does not receive the grants.

The budget also calls for giving the schools $12.375 million for current expenses and $4.7 million for capital outlay. The figures are about the same as for the current year .

The budget also decreases the amount of discretionary funds each commissioner received under the current budget from $40,000 to $30,000. It also eliminates the option for commissioners to get free health insurance for their families. Their salary and stipend, which together makes the commissioners the fourth best paid in North Carolina, remain the same.

After the public hearing, the commissioners could move to approve the budget. If approved, it becomes effective July 1.

In other business, the commissioners on Monday will:

— Hear a presentation on the Robeson County History Museum from Blake Tyner, the museum’s director.

— Review a policy regulating county Recreation League coaches.

— Consider approval of a contract for Marilyn Merritt, a part-time social worker for health services at the county jail.