Dawson County residents will have one more opportunity to speak up about the proposed 2014 county budget.

The second of two public hearings will be Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Center, 25 Justice Way.

The first public hearing was held Thursday, Aug. 15, but county commissioners did not receive any comments from the public.

After voting in July to keep the millage rate the same for the ninth year in a row, at 8.138 mills, Commission Chairman Mike Berg proposed the budget stay the same as 2013 at $20.88 million.

In the budget, Berg proposes restoring $75,000 to the Development Authority. That amount is half of the authoritys budget. The county didnt fund any money to the authority in 2012. In 2013, Berg recommended restoring $75,000 to the authority, but commissioners voted to amend the budget, eliminating the funding.

Berg also recommends restoring $15,000 to the health department. The environmental health office has been closing at noon everyday. Restoring the funding would allow the office to stay open full-time, officials said.

Bergs budget for 2014 doesnt include any furloughs or cost-of-living raises for county employees, but it does include $23,000 for a salary study.The study would allow the county to compare salaries and bring employees who are below a base level up to that specified level. Berg also set aside $72,000 for those who need to be brought up to a base level. Any money left from the $72,000 could be used to give raises based on performance.

Berg also recommended $77,000 to the registrars office, because 2014 will be an election year.

Bergs proposed budget also allows for capital improvements, including four sheriff patrol cars, one ambulance, park repairs andsome computer replacements.

Anyone who would like to comment on the budget but will not be able to attend the public hearing may email countyclerk@dawsoncounty.org.

The anticipated budget adoption date is Sept. 5. To view a full copy of the proposed budget, you may visit www.dawsoncounty.org and click on Finance under the departments tab at the top of the web page.

The commissioners did not vote on any other items at Thursdays voting session.

Berg announced that a work session scheduled for Sept.12 would be cancelled, along with a voting session Sept. 19. The meetings were called off due to light agendas and a lack of attendance by commissioners during that time.