Members of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors had their first opportunity Tuesday night to sit down to discuss the county administrator’s proposed fiscal year 2012-13 budget during a meeting in the colonial courthouse.

The discussion followed a public hearing last Thursday night at Gloucester High School where an overwhelming majority of residents who spoke said they felt the county needed to learn to function with less money and were opposed to tax increases.

Board chair Carter Borden brought up the issue of the 4 percent raises proposed in the budget for both county and school employees. "I propose a dollar amount like a $1,000 pay increase for every county employee," Borden said, adding that that approach would save two cents on the tax rate over the current proposal.

With the 4 percent salary increase, Borden said those in the lower salary ranges, who he said are really hurting, would not see much change in their take-home pay. However, Borden said t...