ROCKLAND — Knox County Commissioners Tuesday will continue preparing the 2013 budget for public review, as well as receive an update on the county's Public Safety Building project on Park Street.

The Commission will hold a regular meeting Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. in the county courthouse building on Union Street in Rockland. The public is invited to attend.

The agenda also includes a discussion of Knox County's bond rating and bond bid, awarding of the snow removal and sanding bid and approval of the amended job evaluation and salary administration policy.

Knox County Administrator Andrew Hart said the bond interest rate might generate some discussion, but added that the bond was awarded to the lowest bidder.

"Joseph Cuetara of Moors & Cabot, serves as Knox County’s financial advisor on the bond project, will be at the meeting to make a presentation to the Commission," said Hart.

Hart also said that the biggest impact on the 2013 budget will be the first bond payment.

"The amount is less than anticipated since the rate was less than we thought," said Hart.

Last month, department heads reviewed their budgets with Hart and the county finance director. Oct. 12 is the target date for budget notebooks to be available to the county budget committee. It is expected that Knox County Administrator Andrew Hart will update the Commission on where the proposed budget calendar stands in terms of meeting target dates set earlier in the process.

Earlier this year, the budget process was riddled with controversy as the public debated administrative salary raises with county commissioners. Following the public discourse, which included a protest by a handful of department heads, the commissioners in May overruled a 9-percent cap imposed by a march 15 re-vote of the budget and restored pay increases to the Dec. 1 level.

The public has ample opportunity yet to get involved with the budget process, and an anticipated budget public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25. During that hearing, the budget will be officially presented to commissioners and the budget committee, including an overview and tax cap information.

Proposed budget reviews with budget committee members and commissioners are scheduled for Nov. 1, 8 and 15, with a final review and vote scheduled for Nov. 20. If necessary, Nov. 29 has been reserved for the final review and proposed budget vote.

The Nov. 1 review is to include program grants for Mid-Coast Regional Planning Commission and the departmental budgets of Probate Court, District Attorney, Registry of Deeds, Finance and the County Administrative Office. On Nov. 8, the review session will cover planning grants for Knox-Lincoln Extension, Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water, Time and Tide Resource Conservation and Development and the Midcoast Economic Development District, as well as the Airport and Sheriff's Office Patrol Division departmental budgets.

The budget review session scheduled for Nov. 15 will cover the departmental budgets for Communications, EMA, Building Maintenance and Debt Service. Nov. 20 is reserved for reviewing the budget(s) of any department(s) that needs further review, if necessary.

If the proposed budget is approved by the budget committee and commissioners on Nov. 20, a public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 11, when the final budget will be voted on by the two entities. If preliminary budget approval happens Nov. 29, the final budget public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.

The completed 2013 budget is to be submitted to the State Auditor by Dec. 31.

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email  at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.