BEDFORD -- Real estate taxes in Bedford County will not increase next year under the county's proposed $81 million budget for the 2006-07 fiscal year.

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted Monday night to use the current real estate tax rate of 65 cents per $100 of assessed value of a home to advertise for its April 13 public hearing on next year's proposed budget.

That means the board can't raise the tax rate higher than advertised, but could vote to lower it.

That is unlikely, because the supervisors voted Monday to borrow up to $40 million next year as part of the county's five-year capital improvement plan to renovate and expand Jefferson Forest High School. The cost of the project has not yet been determined.

Other proposed county fees that will be presented at the public hearing include the daily room rate for the county-operated nursing home, which will range from $136 for a nonprivate room, to $141 for a private room with a shared bathroom and $150 for a private room.

The county's E-911 phone tax will remain unchanged next year at $3, and the vehicle decal fee will remain at $25.