The first hearing is at 6 p.m. Monday in the Pittsboro Superior Courtroom. The second hearing is at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Siler City Courtroom.

The economic downturn is affecting county revenue as demands for services and facilities are increasing, County Manager Charlie Horne said.

The proposed 5.5-cent tax-rate increase would provide 1.2 cents for school needs, 1 cent to help pay for park facilities, 1 cent to cover water system construction and 2.3 cents for general operations.

With education the largest category of funding (35 percent of the total), the proposed budget would fully fund school facilities in the county's adopted Capital Improvement Plan. Other expenses include positions for the Sheriff's Office to improve jail security and narcotics investigations, creation of a new Community Development Department to coordinate and implement new land-use and environmental initiatives, and increases in county employee salaries.

To see the budget proposal, go to www.chathamnc.org.