Starting in July, teachers in Rockingham County will get a 3 percent raise and county residents will pay slightly higher taxes and fees.

On Wednesday evening, Rockingham County's governing body, the Board of Supervisors, unanimously approved its $359 million budget. The fiscal-2009 spending plan, which takes effect in July, is 3.1 percent more than the current budget and includes increases in real estate taxes and water and sewer fees for county residents.

The increases, county officials said, are necessary to fund operations at Cub Run Elementary School, which opens in the fall, as well as construction of River Bend Elementary and East Rockingham High schools. The new money also will pay for raises for teachers and three new full-time fire and rescue positions.

"We think it's a good budget," said Supervisor Pablo Cuevas. "These new schools were pretty much what has driven this year's budget."

According to the new budget, property tax levies for county residents will increase from 58 to 60 cents for every $100 "of assessed value at fair market rate."

Currently, the average homeowner - someone with a home valued at $225,000 - pays about $1,305 a year in property taxes. Now, these folks will pay about $45 more per year.

The budget also includes a 5 percent, or 50-cent, increase for up to 3,500 gallons of water, pushing the cost to $10.50. Similarly, the current sewer rate for 1,000 gallons is $3.83 and will increase by 10 percent to $4.21.

Currently, county residents pay $10 for up to 3,500 gallons of water.

The combined water and sewer bills will increase by "less than $3 a month" for the average household, said Joe Paxton, county administrator. Those households will pay from $32.55 to $35.23 a month.

Rockingham also plans to increase water connection fees by $1,000, bringing the fee to $8,000.

The budget also includes $43.5 million allocated for county schools, an increase of 4.3 percent from the current local portion of the school's spending plan.

With those local dollars, the county schools will spend $115.6 million for the fiscal year, officials said. The budget includes a $1.8 million increase in local funds and will grant teachers and staff a 3 percent raise.

The School Board wanted more money to help cover the cost of increasing fuel prices and raises for teachers and staff, and to offset the cost of opening two new schools, school officials said earlier.

"We thank you for your support for our children in Rockingham County," Carol Fenn, schools superintendent, told the supervisors Wednesday. "It was a good process. We've made some good decisions."

Aside from passing the budget, the supervisors approved a resolution to petition the Rockingham County Circuit Court to establish a 4 percent meals tax. If the court certifies the request, the general public will vote on the tax in the November general election.

Most localities in the county already collect a meals tax. Mount Crawford is moving to enact a tax, Harrisonburg's tax is 6 percent and Bridgewater and Dayton both levy 4 percent, officials have said.

The new tax, therefore, will affect only Massanutten and places like Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant, which is near Mount Crawford but outside the town's boundary.

"It's a good tax, because if you don't go out to eat much, you don't pay much," Cuevas said. "This tax helps keep the real estate taxes at a reasonable level and allows the county to get some of the tourist dollars."

If passed, Cuevas estimates the tax will generate $600,000 a year.