The Lincoln County Board of Supervisors began talks Monday that will hopefully lead to a balanced budget for the next fiscal year that won’t add any new taxes to residents.

They’ll meet again next week to suggest adjustments, then they’ll have a public hearing on the proposed budget Sept. 15.

The final budget is expected to be approved after taxpayers get a chance to chime in on how the county spends their money.

It’s looking good for the county for the 2016-2017 year, with an increase in revenues and a decrease

in expenditures. Spending is projected to be $18.86 million, while revenue is expected to be $19.04 million. That’s a decrease of $791,736, or 4.03 percent, for expenditures, and an increase of $1,381,887, or 7.82 percent, for revenue.

A lot of the increased revenue comes from a 3.04 percent increase in property assessments, said tax assessor Blake Pickering.

Net assessed values in the county jumped from $254,632,429 to $262,360,841. That’s an increase of $7,728,412.

Pickering attributed the increase to the building boom this year in Lincoln County. “You can ride around the county and you’re seeing houses pop up all over,” he said.

Another big change is the Lincoln Civic Center Baseball Complex, which opened in April. With the multi-field park completed, supervisors don’t have any huge construction costs to factor into the budget.

Civic Center Director Quinn Jordan met with supervisors to address questions they had about fertilizer purchases for the baseball fields. Jordan assured the men he was following the Mississippi State University Extension Service guidelines for baseball turf maintenance.

The expenditures for the Lincoln Civic Center is $388,000, however, the county only appropriates $228,000 toward it. The balance comes from private donations, rentals, fees and concessions, Jordan said.

Falvey voiced concerns that the county may be spending too much at the civic center, and should be adding more to the districts’ road funds.

Jordan said he’s already got a tight budget and can’t tighten it anymore.

“If I could cut it, I would Mr. Doug, but I don’t have it to cut,” Jordan said.

Supervisor Jerry Wilson said the board needed to keep an eye out for grants that could help them offset spending.

“I know grants are out there, but you’ve got to look for them,” he said. “They’re not going to fall on you.”

Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing’s request was about the same as last year, $3.15 million for his department and the jail. His request includes the salary of one additional deputy.

The supervisors won’t take any vote on the budget until after a public hearing next month.

They’ll meet again Monday at 9 a.m. to further discuss items on the budget.