Douglas County Public Works director Keith Browning’s concerns about maintaining and putting new overlay along county roads has translated into a $172,260 budget request for 2006.

“I get more and more worried each year,” he said. “We’re just not keeping up, and that could mean a bigger expense later on for roads.”

Browning made a case to include additional funds for road overlay projects in the 2006 budget before the county commissioners on Wednesday.

For a second day, commissioners held budget hearings with various county departments and area organizations. Commissioners met Wednesday with Sheriff Ken McGovern, Zoning and Codes Director Keith Dabney and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center officials.

Commissioners made no decisions.

The county commission has been presented with a $48.7 million estimated budget for 2006. That would require commissioners to levy 30.21 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed valuation.

The proposed budget includes a 2 percent salary increase for employees.

On July 15, commissioners intend to meet from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass., and discuss possible changes in the budget.

“I think at that meeting, we’ll want to put our numbers on the table and see if we can come to a consensus,” said Commission Chairman Charles Jones.

The three commissioners have indicated they would like the mill levy to remain steady. Last year, the county levied 29.856 mills. The commission would have to cut about $367,640 from the proposed budget to sustain the 29.856 mill levy. The actual budget for 2005 was $47.5 million.

A final vote on the 2006 budget will be taken in August.