DOBSON — Tonight the Surry County Board of Commissioners will hold its final budget work session before residents weigh in with public comments next week.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in room 335 at the Surry County Government Center in Dobson. The commissioners scheduled this meeting for tonight after hearing County Manager Dennis Thompson’s budget recommendation on June 7.

According to Board Chairman Paul Johnson, the board will likely refine some 2010-2011 budget numbers tonight so the commissioners can try to pass a county budget next week with “as little changes as possible.” Johnson said the board also is supposed to discuss fire district tax rates. Although Thompson has not recommended any tax increases, Johnson said last week that a couple of the fire departments have “special needs” that the commissioners may need to discuss.

The commissioners also are free to discuss other topics at the budget meeting, but Johnson said budget discussion should dominate the night. He said Don Mitchell, facilities management director, is scheduled to talk to the board about an emergency with the air conditioning unit at the old county courthouse.

A public hearing for the proposed budget will be held at the commissioners’ regular meeting on June 21. This year Thompson has not recommended any tax rate or fee increases for the 2010-2011 budget. The proposed budget total is a little more than $74 million, which is down $2 million from the present budget the county is operating under.

Thompson told the commissioners last week, “The document is a very conservative budget. It’s very close to the budget we’re operating under this year.”

Meetings of the Surry County Board of Commissioners are open to the public. Any person with a disability needing an accommodation at the meeting should contact the county manager’s office at 401-8201. Elkin residents should call 366-8201.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.