ROCKINGHAM HOLDS HEARING ON BUDGET

WENTWORTH -- Keeping DARE and checking government spending flavored
the discussion at a public hearing Thursday on Rockingham County's
proposed $86 million 2006-07 budget.

About 200 people crowded Rockingham County High School. It was the
first forum for the public to speak on the budget.

The current proposal has a property tax rate increase of 5 cents per
$100 valuation for capital projects such as a new county courthouse
and jail, which few people spoke against.

Another 3 cents on the property tax rate that had been previously
discussed is no longer part of the spending recommendation. That
would eliminate up to 14 positions in the county, including sheriff's
deputies.

Eric Smith, one of 22 speakers, had another idea. He suggested taking
the budget back to 1978.

"Government ought to pick a year in the past and pass a law that says
that you can't exceed that budget," Smith, of Eden, told commissioners.

Several teachers said focused on the potential cuts to the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program that deputies teach.

"Some students only see law enforcement officers when they come to
their homes of if they have a mom or dad in jail," said Jeanelle
Little, a fifth grade teacher in the county.

The DARE officer allows children to see law enforcement as friends,
she said.

Sandra Collins, of Mayodan, said she was surprised by the knowledge
that her daughter brought from DARE training, particularly the
abundance of drugs in the world.

"I thought it was marijuana, cocaine and Xanax," she said, "I didn't
know that there was 'X' (ecstasy) and crystal meth out there, and
stuff being made in the household."

Sheriff Sam Page and several deputies showed up to protest potential
job losses in his office.

County Manager Tom Robinson's budget proposal recommends eliminating
up to six positions there through attrition.

Tim Scales, who sits on the Rockingham County Board of Education,
said the schools should pay teachers better to be more competitive in
recruiting personnel.

In 2006-07, the schools are slated to receive about $450,000 more
from the county than in the current budget.

Commissioners must approve the county budget by July 1.