Liberty County commissioners plan to approve an almost $30 million budget at their mid-month meeting Thursday.

They conducted a public hearing on the proposed budget during their Tuesday meeting.

County finance chief Kim McGlothlin told the commissioners the fiscal year 2018 budget, starting July 1, will be more than $400,000 less than 2017. Department heads and constitutional officers submitted requests totaling more than $30.8 million from which the commissioners trimmed more than $1.4 million.

Projected revenues are down 1.3 percent. Property taxes that produced $20.5 million for FY 2017 are expected to bring in $19 million for 2018, a drop of 7.4 percent. The general sales and use tax is expected to bring in $3 million, an increase of 11.11 percent.

The commissioners named citizens to a number of boards and committees. They include

Harry Rogers reappointed to the forestry board,

Joe E. Kelly to the citizens advisory committee of the Hinesville Area Planning Organization,

Cathy Atkins reappointed to the county Department of Family and Children Services board,

LaFayne May reappointed to the library board,

Charles Frasier and Graylan Quarterman reappointed to the Coastal Regional Commission, and

Douglas Harn to another term on the Aging Services Council.

For the first time in recent memory, commissioners named six members to the county’s cultural and historic committee. New members Angela Wilson and Sabrina Newby joined by four reappointments: Phil Odom, Luciria Lovette, Michelle Ricketson and Jeffery Porter.