JONESVILLE, Va. - The Lee County Board of Supervisors met in a recessed meeting last Tuesday to hear from citizens on the proposed 2006-07 budget for Lee County, which is estimated to be around $57, 742, 887. The budget includes $33,193,367 in school expenditures. Those expenditures do not include the federal funding for the county's Head Start program.

Several citizens were on hand at the meeting to ask the board to reconsider the proposed budget cuts. Those cuts include no raises for several managers for the solid waste convenience centers and the reduction of hours to 25 hours per week.

Others pointed out that the convenience center program only makes up a little over two percent of the county's budget, yet, the school board budget has increased $685,000 more than last year.

Board Chairman John Bledsoe said a lot of the school district's money is required by the state and the county has not been meeting requirements for a while, adding it wasn't fair to the schools.

The sheriff's budget was nearly cut in half, from $12,000 to $6,000, by providing only one lease and/or purchase for a cruiser. Many area residents expressed concern, saying deputies need to be out in the rural areas for safety.

Lee County also has more than $2 million dollars in delinquent taxes.

In the regular monthly session, which was held following the public hearing, the board passed a resolution establishing a $25 bounty for each female coyote killed in the county, but with no more than $2,500 to be paid during the 2006-07 fiscal year.

Also, the board approved payment of $8,000 to Lane Engineering, Inc., for design and construction of the Rose Hill Community Library addition. Engineer Bobby Lane said the project has been advertised for bids.

The board will meet tonight, June 27, at 6 p.m., in the General District Courthouse in Jonesville, to conduct a public hearing concerning the increase of the auto decal from $10 per vehicle to $20 per vehicle. The board is also expected to consider adopting the county budget.