What if you were about to pass a $79 million budget — featuring big pay raises for county employees during an economic recession — and nobody cared?

The Fayette County Commission could face that possibility Thursday night when the second public hearing on the county’s operating budget for 2008-09 is scheduled.

On June 12, the first public hearing was held to a nearly empty meeting room and no public input.

This year’s general fund budget is $48.1 million, and interim county administrator Jack Krakeel has said the county would maintain the same millage rate when hearings occur in August. If the county does not decrease the rate, the county would have to hold three public hearings since it would be a tax increase.

The total $79.5 million budget also includes $14 million in special revenue funds, $13.3 million for the water system, $1.6 million in capital projects and $1.3 million in vehicle replacement funds.

One of the biggest controversies surrounding this year’s budget has been the salary increases given to county employees after a salary study was completed.

Commissioner Peter Pfeifer has criticized the increases.

“This is a budget designed for the current employees. It’s not designed for the employers – the taxpayer. It’s not about service for the people who pay.

“It looks like to me that departments were told to cut spending across the board in order to protect the massive pay raises that were voted in by this board in February,” Pfeifer said.

By his calculations, the average increase in pay per county employee was 9.5 percent.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. In other action, the board will:

• Discuss the Bond Advisory Committee’s recommendation to the Board of Commissioners concerning the possibility of refinancing existing water revenue bonds.

• Consider staff’s recommendation to close capital projects that no longer require funding.

• Approve a recommendation to accept the annual service agreement between Motorola and Fayette County for the County’s 800 MHz ASTRO Simulcast System Maintenance and for a contract renewal for the next years in the amount of $450,358.08.