A budget work session in Buckingham County, taking place March 21, has resulted in changes in the budget allocations for Buckingham County Public Schools (BCPS) and the Buckingham County Sheriff’s Department for the proposed fiscal year 2019 budget for the county.

Members of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors, during the work session, voted in favor of allocating an additional $77,068 for the sheriff’s department. The initial request from the department, County Administrator Rebecca Carter said, was for $120,563.

Funds will be allocated to increase wages for the officers to maintain competitive wages between surrounding county and state law enforcement organizations, Carter confirmed.

“The board so far is agreeing to all of his requests except a new local position,” Carter said, noting the requests presented by Sheriff William G. “Billy” Kidd.

“I think the county is already paying for three officer positions that the state does not reimburse for,” Carter said. “The new amount to the sheriff’s department also had additional money for part time salaries and wages as well as full time wages. There is also an additional $14,388 for various maintenance expenses and vehicle and power equipment.”

Carter noted that an extra $30,000 was allocated to the present fiscal year 2018 budget for “law enforcement salary adjustment and this $62,680 along with some additional state compensation board money will help to have better pay for our law enforcement officers.”

Supervisors, during the work session, also voted in favor of allocating an additional $183,795 for BCPS. The allocation is proposed to be distributed as $68,795 for a middle school math teacher, $25,000 for transportation for the division’s special education students and $90,000 for a bus.

Total expenses, including an estimated year-end balance for the fiscal year 2019 budget is estimated to be at $50,156,587, according to a public notice issued by the county. This amount includes the additional allocations voted by supervisors during the work session.

Proposed levies for fiscal year 2017-2018, based on every $100 valuation, include 55 cents for real estate, $4.05 for personal property, $2.90 for machinery tools, 55 cents for public service corporations, $4.05 for State Corporation Commission (SCC) personal property, $1 for merchants capital and 55 cents for aircraft.

The public hearing for the fiscal year 2019 budget will take place Monday, April 16, at the Buckingham Administrative Office at 13380 W. James Anderson Highway at 7:15 p.m. Supervisors will meet on Monday, April 23, at 6 p.m. to adopt the budget.