In what threatened to be a contentious standoff over cuts to the law enforcement budget, Sheriff Bill Cameron and Charlotte County commissioners reached a compromise at a public hearing Thursday that clears the way for final adoption of the county’s proposed $517.2 million budget.

The last of two public
hearings is scheduled for
5 p.m. Sept. 27 in the County Administration building in Murdock, at which time commissioners will listen to citizens’ comments and vote to adopt the budget for fiscal year 2013, which keeps the millage rate flat at 6.2796 mills. A mill equals $1 in taxes per $1,000 of a property’s taxable value.