Moulder unveils proposed budget

Oconeeans should not see a tax hike and county employees should not see a pay raise for fiscal 2015-16. County Administrator Scott Moulder revealed his proposed budget on Tuesday, with spending of $42.4 million on county operations. The proposal includes nearly $640,00 for new employees, including an in-house attorney with a staff paralegal. The budget does not include raises for current county employees. A grant administrator will be added, according to the proposal. Also, the Oconee dentention center will see a total of 14 new detention officers; two employees of the Mountain Lakes Convention and Visitors Bureau will become county employees; $723,400 will purchase property for a new Tri-County Tech campus in Oconee; and $80,000 will be allocated for the county’s animal spay/neuter program. The county council will meet on May 12 to begin discussions on the proposed budget.