FARMINGTON –  County commissioners are inviting public input on the 2013 budget Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. The hearing will be held in Room 303 of the County Administration Building in Farmington.  The $101.6 million budget includes no property tax increase and a 1-percent cost of living increase for employees, the first in three years. Elected officials will not receive the COLA.

“There is nothing too extravagant. It’s pretty tight and lean like our budgets generally are,” said Cunty Commissioner Bret Millburn.

Meanwhile, a hiring freeze continues, said County Clerk/Auditor Steve Rawlings. “Only critical positions will be replaced. We are going to be down in FTE’s (full-time job equivalents) by 15 from where we will end this year.”

An example of the tight budget is the general fund, which is $62.2 million for the 2012 budget but will be reduced by more than $200,000 for the coming budget, which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2013.