Douglas County commissioners will hold a public budget hearing at 6:35 p.m. tonight at the Lecompton Community Building in Lecompton.

County residents can have their say, but it’s unlikely there will be any changes in the estimated $49.3 million budget for 2006.

“We can’t add anything to the budget at this point,” County Administrator Craig Weinaug said. “The only thing the commission could do is cut something in order to add another item.”

Most residents wanting to add something to the budget get involved in the discussion in July. Nevertheless, commissioners said they would be happy to hear what county residents think of the 2006 budget.

Commissioners will levy 30.075 mills in property taxes to fund the estimated 2006 budget of $49.3 million. The county levied 29.856 mills to fund the 2005 budget of $47.5 million.

A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Part of the increase in the mill levy is the result of the county commission’s decision to fund a local bioscience initiative.

The county’s budget also provides for 10 new staff positions – four with the public works department; three with the sheriff’s department; one with the county clerk’s office; one with the district attorney’s office; and one with the zoning and codes department.