FARMINGTON — The Franklin County budget panel will hold a public hearing on a proposed $5.5 million budget for 2013-14 at 5 p.m. Monday, May 20, in the Superior Courtroom at the county courthouse.

The proposal is $203,484 more than the current budget and includes $1.6 million for the Franklin County jail.

The proposed assessment to county taxpayers, if everything stays the same, is $203,584 more than the current assessment.

The Franklin County commissioners and the Budget Advisory Committee are recommending a $5.5 million spending package.

The advisory committee will take no action on the proposed budget until 5 p.m. May 23 at the courthouse.

Last year, the panel went to the hearing with a proposed amount and made several cuts a few days later.

There was no second public hearing for members of the public to have a say on those proposed reductions.

Once the budget committee votes, its recommendation will go back to county commissioners.

County commissioners may not further increase, decrease, alter or revise the budget adopted by the advisory committee, except by unanimous vote. If the adopted budget is changed by the county commissioners, the advisory committee may reject that change by a two-thirds vote of its membership. Those actions are final and are not subject to further action by either the county commissioners or the advisory committee.

dperry@sunjournal.com