The Maxton Board of Commissioners got its first look at the town’s proposed budget, which keeps the tax rate the same, meaning most residents will pay more because of higher property values.

Town Manager Vince Long presented a draft of his proposed 2010-11 fiscal budget, a budget he says will fund services that have been neglected in the past.

“This budget’s comprehensive,” he said. “We’ll be able to catch up on a lot of things such as getting equipment we need and improving our infrastructure.”

Long’s proposed $2.9 million budget holds the tax rate at 80 cents per $100 of property. Most property owners will pay more because the county recently revalued property.

The budget includes a General Fund of $2.1 million; a Water Fund of $392,000; and a Waste Water Fund of $429,000.

Long, who has been Maxton’s manager since December, said that the town will start out the fiscal year beginning July 1 with a Fund Balance of $725,000. He said that by the end of the 2010-11 fiscal year, the balance is expected to be about $561,000.

The budget includes no new positions or salary raises for employees. Long said that 31 employees would benefit by the town increasing its payments for health insurance by 17 percent, or $36,000, and increasing workers compensation by 20 percent, or $8,600.

These are “indirect” benefits to town employees, Long said, noting that town employees do not have to pay anything for their health insurance.

The budget will be presented for a public hearing and adoption when the commissioners meet for their regular monthly meeting in June.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners also approved a resolution opposing a proposal by the Scotland County Board of Commissioners to build a regional landfill that would extend to less than a mile from the town’s limits.

Last month, about 200 people, most of whom were opposed to the plan that would place a 240-acre landfill at Old Maxton and Patterson roads, attended a public hearing in Maxton to discuss the project. At that time, Scotland County Manager Kevin Patterson told Maxton officials the landfill would collect about 3,000 tons of trash a day, generating about $2 million in revenue each year for Scotland County.

The commissioners also approved retaining the law firm of Parker Poe to provide legal services related to the town’s opposition to the landfill project.

In other business, the commissioners::

• Reviewed draft policies for the use of the Freight Building, located near Town Hall. The town is working to develop regulations concerning who can use the building, what activities can be held and what process must be followed to schedule use of the facility.

• Approved the hiring of East Coast Pyro Tech to provide the town’s July Fourth fireworks display. The event will be held July 2.