FARMINGTON – Budget committee members will hear county residents’ comments on the county and unorganized territory budgets Monday before voting.

The county budget proposal of approximately $4.2 million has been under discussion by the committee since October.

The committee accepted most department budgets as requested, according to Franklin County Commissioner Gary McGrane, with the exception of the sheriff’s department budget and one for the Greater Franklin Development Corp. Approximately a quarter of the proposed budget is attributed to the sheriff’s department and the department of corrections. The committee was concerned with deputies’ projected overtime for the year and voted earlier this month to grant the department only a 3 percent increase in personnel wages from last year’s budget to accommodate an expected pay raise. This leaves the budget approximately $27,000 lower than that requested.

Also cut was funding for the Greater Franklin Development Corp. Committee members, citing the group’s claim to be self-funded and its significant bank reserve, cut their $60,000 budget request in half. The organization works “to create and keep quality employment opportunities in greater Franklin County by attracting new business, assisting local employers and encouraging entrepreneurs,” according to its Web site.

A hearing on the county budget for the unorganized townships will also be held following the county budget hearing and vote. The township budget is also about $4 million. The committee reduced the commissioners’ request by about $52,000 leaving the proposal at $4.09 million.