DURHAM -- No one showed up the first time, but Durham County administrators got some response Thursday night in the second of three community meetings to get public opinion on the county budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The eight residents who gathered at Little River Elementary School in northern Durham County asked about schools, secondary road conditions and controlled growth. They were actually outnumbered by the battery of county staff members on hand to provide answers, but were eight more citizens than appeared at last Thursday's meeting at Southwest Elementary, which was abandoned when no residents showed up.

County Manager Mike Ruffin said no budget discussions have taken place this year. He said instructions have been issued to department heads, who will make presentations to the administration teams in mid-March.

"This is really a very good time to be hearing from you," he told the assembled citizens.

Ruffin said he expects "much more focused" budget discussions with department heads this year, based on instructions for them to provide specific performance measures and prioritized budget requests -- "from top to bottom, what's important to you, what can we take out first," as he put it.

Ruffin is scheduled to present his budget proposal to the commissioners May 22, which will be reviewed in subsequent work sessions and a public hearing.

The county's total budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year is $581.5 million, including $237 million in federal and state "pass-through" funds already designated for specific purposes. The county's current property tax rate is 81.9 cents per $100 of assessed value, which Ruffin said raised about $160 million this year.

Three of the residents who attended Thursday's session have children attending Little River and had education on their minds.

Tina Lilley, who moved to Durham from Orlando, Fla., last year, said she's had trouble with the school system's services for disabled children since her son was diagnosed with a disability. She said school staff in neighboring counties who saw his diagnosis immediately told her what services would be available, but said in Durham she was told he'd have to undergo additional testing.

"They were maxed out," Lilley said of the Durham staff.

"They discourage you from seeking services," added Elizabeth Rees, another parent.

Commissioners Chairwoman Ellen Reckhow said the county provides $500 more than Wake County per pupil in school funding and seemed surprised at the problems raised.

"I don't know if it's a resource problem," Reckhow said. "It could be a prioritizing problem." She said she'd investigate Lilley's concerns.

Others suggested the county could do more to inform citizens of its activities.

"There are people here that really want to get involved," said D.J. Waldow, who is running for the school board this year, during the meeting.

The last in the series of community meetings is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Oak Grove Elementary School on Wake Forest Highway.

This is cache, read story here