By JEFF ABELL

jabell@thehawkeye.com

At a public hearing today, Des Moines County residents will have the opportunity to sound off on a proposed $30.2 million budget for fiscal year 2010-11.

"This has been a challenging budget, but our department heads have been willing to cut where possible," Budget Director Cheryl McVey said.

For next fiscal year, the rollback for residential properties is moving from 45.59 percent to 46.91 percent. Agricultural rollback for 2009 valuations will be 66.27 percent, according to a state official.

McVey said the general basic fund is anticipated to end next fiscal year at about $53,000, but could be back in the red if revenue sources continue to dwindle and the state cuts funding.

Other projected ending year fund balances for next fiscal year include $29,381 in rural services, about $2 million in secondary roads, $19,490 in capital projects and nearly $15,000 in debt service.

Also at today's meeting, county supervisors will finalize terms of an agreement to market the former county home.

For the past two months, a contract with Geode Resource Conservation & Development to market the county's moth-balled mental health facility has been discussed by the board.

Supervisors have yet to outline criteria for a prospective developer, including whether the board wants to sell or lease the Washington Road facility and what acreage is included in a development deal.

Last week, a meeting to outline the terms of a marketing agreement was postponed due to time constraints.

While the board works on a deal with Geode RC&D, mold growing inside the building caused last year by a drain pipe and roof leak will not be abated, according to a county official.

The facility was closed after the Cottonwood Care Facility in Burlington opened in 2006. Currently, it is used as a record storage facility for county departments.