Employee pay raises are at the fore of a $97 million spending plan Hall County officials are considering for the 2017 fiscal year.

Officials told The Times that the proposed budget includes no tax increase but about $3 million from reserves to balance the plan.

A public hearing will be held Monday and officials said they expect to approve a budget June 27.

The 2017 fiscal year begins July 1.

Commissioners voted 3-2 last June to approve the current year’s $93.6 million general fund budget with no tax increase, marking a 3.68 percent increase over the 2015 fiscal year’s adopted budget of $90.2 million.

The current budget included funding for 24 new full-time positions and $1.4 million for employee raises when approved.

Officials OK’d budgeting about $3.6 million in reserves to balance the spending plan.

The fund currently stands at about $23 million.

Raises this year are targeted first at public safety personnel, including firefighters, law enforcement and emergency 911 dispatchers. Officials said the increases are needed to keep pace with neighboring counties and governments so that Hall remains competitive in attracting the best and most qualified workers.

Major road projects will continue to be supported by special purpose local option sales tax revenues.