Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey put his $638 million proposed budget in front of county commissioners Thursday.
The budget is an overall increase of nearly $800,000, and a large portion of it - $371.9 million - goes to the county's schools.
"This is a no-tax-increase budget," Ramsey told commissioners.
It's also a budget where not much else has increased for county employees and county departments.
There are no raises in the budget for county employees, but no increase in cost of the county's medical premiums and no anticipated layoffs.
But there are several items in the budget that have increased.
The county's contract for housing prisoners with Corrections Corporation of America, which manages the Silverdale Corrections Facility, increased $809,603.
County Administrator of Finance Louis Wright explained that the extra money for Corrections Corp. came from cuts to other areas.
The county also will budget an additional $360,771 to its Enterprise South Nature Park, and the Regional Planning Commission will receive an additional $333,493.
"Our revenue was up a little more than anticipated," Ramsey said. "Our spending habits were cut back."
Commissioners will be asked to approve the budget Aug. 12 after they've had time to review it.
A few big ticket items are not in the budget. The register of deeds had requested $400,000 for a new building, but it was not included. The public defender's office requested a replacement vehicle, computers and furniture, but those aren't in the budget, either.
The sheriff's office requested $1.4 million for radios, computer upgrades and replacement vehicles, among other items, but the budget recommends giving the sheriff less than half that amount.
Ross's Landing, half of which is funded by the city, will receive money for a Riverwalk extension to Alstom under the proposed budget.
Commission Chairman Fred Skillern said the budget "might be tweaked," but he didn't mention anything specific. Commissioner Larry Henry said he was satisfied with the budget presentation.
"It's a flat, even budget," he said.
"There's no tax increase, which is the most important issue," Commissioner Jim Coppinger said.