County budget hearings wrapped up last week with the final departments presenting budget requests for the 2019 fiscal year, which starts Jan. 1. Over the past two weeks, department heads have presented around $26.8 million in general fund requests, with $2.4 million additional in personnel requests and $7.8 million additional in capital requests. The board of commissioners set a millage rate last week that will result in a $1.3 million increase in property tax collections over last year ($11.5 million total), and combined with a $1 million increase in LOST revenue ($7.6 million total), as well as other taxes and income, the board will have an estimated $26.2 million in total revenue to use along with fund balance money to cover costs. Commissioners will have to whittle down the requests so that they retain between 15 and 20 percent of fund balance.