County residents packed the Rockingham County High School auditorium Thursday night to voice their thoughts on the county's proposed 2006-07 budget. The county is looking at a possible 5-cent property tax increase for capital project funding, and various departmental cuts to balance the operational portion of the budget. Commissioner Jerry Owens was absent. Many teachers, parents and residents came to support the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, specifically the Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Children Abuse Resistance Education programs taught in schools. The county has looked at cutting six deputy positions to balance the budget. Sheriff Sam Page had previously said if those positions were cut, it would likely be D.A.R.E. and C.A.R.E. officers who would be let go first. [continues 824 words]
County residents packed the Rockingham County High School auditorium Thursday night to voice their thoughts on the county's proposed 2006-07 budget. The county is looking at a possible 5-cent property tax increase for capital project funding, and various departmental cuts to balance the operational portion of the budget. Commissioner Jerry Owens was absent. Many teachers, parents and residents came to support the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, specifically the Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Children Abuse Resistance Education programs taught in schools. The county has looked at cutting six deputy positions to balance the budget. Sheriff Sam Page had previously said if those positions were cut, it would likely be D.A.R.E. and C.A.R.E. officers who would be let go first. [continues 705 words]
