The owner of a $150,000 home will see his or her annual county property tax bill rise $14.25 from $436.72 to $450.97 under the county's proposed $58.3 million budget.

Flathead County residents will face a slight property tax increase under the fiscal 2006 budget headed for final approval next week.

That translates to a tax increase of slightly more than $1 per month.

The total property tax falls slightly short of the maximum that the county government could levy.

No one from the public spoke for or against the proposed budget at a public hearing Wednesday before the county commissioners.

The commissioners are scheduled to vote on adopting the budget on Sept. 14.

The county's budget is expected to increase from $55.345 million in fiscal 2005 to $58.3 million in fiscal 2006, with most of the added expenses due to rises in fuel, utility and other general operating costs, County Administrator Mike Pence said.

"We're OK, but we're not as healthy as we need to be," Pence said.