On Friday, during a recessed meeting, the Anson County Board of Commissioners approved the 2012-13 budget. Without raising the property tax rate, the commissioners established a $26.6 million budget, which includes funds for county-paid health insurance, a 2.5-percent cost-of-living increase and full restoration of the 401(k) contribution from 2 percent to 3 percent for full-time employees.

The commissioners also approved funding for the following:

· $3,775,880 for Anson County Schools, which is the same amount requested by the Board of Education, and includes $65,000 to continue the Teacher Supplement Grant for another year.

· $793,879 for South Piedmont Community College for general operating expenses, capital, and a special appropriation to repair a roof at the Lockhart-Taylor Center and paving repairs at both campuses.

· $250,000 for interior renovations to the courthouse.

· $150,000 to renovate the façade of the former Belk building.

· $70,000 for the construction of a maintenance building at Little Park.

County Manager Lawrence Gatewood thanked county staff, including Rita James, Robert Thomas, Bonnie Huntley and Cathy Baxter, as well as the county commissioners — Chair Anna Baucom, Vice Chair Ross Streater, Bobby Sikes, Dr. Jim Sims, Harold C. Smith, Vancine Sturdivant and Jarvis Woodburn — for their hard work on the budget preparations and adoption.