FARMVILLE — With no tax or fee increase in the Town’s advertised budget, Wednesday’s budget hearing was nearly as brief as a NASCAR pit stop.

It lasted just under two minutes — or long enough for Town Manager Gerald Spates to read the public notice for the hearing and to offer citizens an opportunity to speak (though there were no takers).

The proposed $16,983,315.64 million budget includes a $386,439 contingency fund, factors a 3 percent raise and Christmas bonuses based on salaries (those making over $40,000 per year would receive $250, those under $500). But, what is often the driving talk of constituent budget discussions on councils and boards of supervisors everywhere, was a non-starter for Council: tax rates.

The advertised budget keeps the real estate tax rate at 12 cents per $100 of assessed value, a personal property tax rate (for businesses only) at $1.50 per $100 of assessed value and a 27-cent-per-pack cigarette tax.

Council is scheduled to meet Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m. and consider approval and adoption of the Town’s budget.