Douglas County residents have the chance tonight to tell county commissioners whether they think more money should be spent on sheriff’s officers, bioscience or other projects.

The commission will hear public comment on the 2006 county budget at 6:35 p.m. today in Building 21 of the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 1930 Harper.

“What we hope is that this gives people an opportunity to speak up before the recommended budget is put together,” Commissioner Bob Johnson said. “People can speak out on a program they think we should fund or talk about the total budget in general.”

The county’s 2005 budget is $47.5 million.

Commissioners scheduled the meeting for public input on the budget at the request of Commissioner Jere McElhaney. Johnson and Commissioner Charles Jones agreed with the idea.

Public input has died out in the last three years, McElhaney said.

“I don’t know if that’s because people are losing interest or if people think we’re doing a good job,” he said. “I hope it’s because people think we’re doing a good job. But I still think it’s a good idea to give people this chance.”

County Administrator Craig Weinaug said he was still in the process of piecing together the recommended budget for 2006.

Several departments have requested funding to hire additional employees. Budget requests from some outside agencies also have increased, Weinaug said.

“At this point, the requests significantly exceed what the available revenue will be,” he said. “The commission either will have to say ‘no’ to a number of things or raise the mill levy.”

It’s unlikely the mill levy would be substantially increased, Weinaug said.