Third reading on county's $17.9 million budget tonight

Cherokee County Council is expected to pass third reading today of its $17.9 million 2007-'08 budget.

While the budget includes a 3 percent cost-of-living raise for all county employees, there were no further salary adjustments for detention center, sheriff's department and communications department employees or the auditor or clerk of court.

The salary adjustments had been part of Cherokee County Interim Administrator Ben Clary's proposed budget.

The budget includes a 1.8 mill increase to cover the county's debt service.

At council's most recent meeting, Josh Parker, speaking on behalf of the county's Fire Chiefs Association, requested council increase its annual $35,000 appropriation to the local volunteer fire districts.

Another petitioner, Rev. Dewitt Clyde, asked council to increase its annual appropriation to the Literacy Association. The association currently receives $7,500 a year from the county.

Council took both requests as information.

Council is also expected to pass third reading of the Peachtree Centre budget and seven fire districts' spending plan.

The budgets take effect on July 1.