Polk County Commissioners are ending preparations for the 2015-2016 budget and heard only one comment during a public hearing last week against the proposed economic and tourism development budget.

Bob Morgan, Polk County Economic and Tourism Development Commission (ETDC) Chair said commissioners have only one opportunity to adopt a budget for the ETDC and recommended the county not adopt a reduced version of that budget.

Commissioners met June 1 and held a public hearing for the upcoming 2015-2016 budget with the only comments coming from Morgan.

Morgan said commissioners have the opportunity to adopt the economic development budget as prepared by the ETDC’s executive director and in accordance with the county’s own economic development policy statement.

Economic development Director Robert Williams requested to become a full-time employee next fiscal year but the recommendation is to keep that position as a contracted position next year. The budget proposal does include reinstating the current part-time tourism director position to full-time as well adding two part-time positions to tourism, all of which will be funded through the county’s occupancy tax, expected to increase significantly next fiscal year, mainly because of the new Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).

The tourism department is self-funded through the county’s occupancy tax revenue, collected from travel and tourism room rentals. Next year’s occupancy tax revenue is expected to more than double. The tourism actual budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 was $5,520 compared to the current year (2014-2015) amended budget of $85,042. The tourism department requested a budget of $179,629, saying that estimate was conservative. The manager’s recommended budget for tourism next year is $160,599.

“You have the opportunity to prove to our commission that you value our advice by adopting the budget we have submitted, not a reduced version,” Morgan told commissioners. “You have the opportunity of reversing the years’ long practice of underfunding economic development in Polk County. You have the opportunity to prove to Polk County citizens that you are funding economic development in accordance with your own economic development policy prepared at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars of our citizens’ tax dollars. You have the opportunity to prove to Polk County citizens that you are serious about economic development in Polk County. And you have the opportunity to adopt the economic development budget our executive director and commission have recommended and not one penny less.”

Commissioner Michael Gage said the difference in what was recommended and what is being proposed in the ETDC budget was hiring the economic development director as a full-time employee.

The total recommended budget for Polk County’s fiscal year 2015-2016, which begins July 1 is $27,012,436 with the tax rate remaining at 51.75 cents per $100 of property valuation.

Polk is expecting to receive 1.17 percent more next year than the current fiscal year in ad valorem tax revenue, with $14,128,724 actually received this year and $14,293,472 expected next year.

Tryon’s fire department tax rate is proposed to increase 1.5 cents per $100 of property valuation and Saluda’s fire tax rate is proposed to increase one cent.

The county is also proposing to pay for capital expenditures next year out of its fund balance. The proposal is to take $523,267 out of fund balance to make several purchases, including $249,300 for the sheriff’s office for vehicles, walkie talkies, radios, computer, in-car cameras, tasers and body vests; $71,790 for the courthouse for a panic button system, metal detectors and sound-proofing and updating equipment for better acoustics in the courtroom and $52,015 for the library for a vehicle and technology equipment. The vehicle for the library, a mini-van, will eventually replace the county’s current bookmobile.

Polk County is also proposing to budget $50,000 next year for future Turner Shoals’ Dam repairs, include funding for an up to five percent employee merit increase and add several new employees. New employees are proposed to include a new sheriff’s office employee to serve as security at the courthouse during all open hours; a new tax assessor; a new EMS position; an income maintenance supervisor III employee at the department of social services; the tourism additions and a part-time employee in the county’s new tag office.

Commissioners are expected to decide on the final version and adopt the budget and tax levy during its regular meeting on Monday, June 15. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. on the second floor meeting room of the Womack building in Columbus.