FARMINGTON – The Franklin County Budget Committee will hold a public hearing Monday on a proposed $2.48 million budget for county government operations for the first six months of 2009.

The county is moving toward a fiscal year budgeting process. Budget talks will begin early next year to develop a budget for July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

The Budget Committee meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 15, upstairs in the superior court room at the county courthouse. Commissioners are expected to consider the Budget Committee’s recommendation at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at their office at the courthouse.

This year’s budget is $4.8 million for a full 12 months, and after revenue was factored in, $4 million was raised by taxpayers countywide. The tax rate for 2008 is 95 cents per $1,000 of property valuation. The county’s 2008 value is $4.2 billion, according to information provided county Clerk Julie Magoon.

Among changes to the budget process is how the county jail budget is being handled under the direction of the state.