This isn’t a good time for a property tax increase in Beaufort County.

Jobs are scarce, home values have declined and some owners have lost their homes to foreclosures.

We’re not telling the Beaufort County commissioners anything they don’t know.

This board has some tough choices to make as it deliberates the proposed county budget for fiscal year 2011-2012, which starts July 1.

The budget presented by County Manager Paul Spruill calls for a 5 cents per $100 valuation increase in the property tax.

The spending plan also makes the case for a referendum in May 2012 on increasing the county sales tax from 7.75 percent to 8 percent.

As the commissioners ponder the numbers before them, they should ignore threats of political reprisals and avoid the political brinkmanship that has marred past budget deliberations.

And, for the sake of the taxpayers it serves, the board should make every attempt to retreat from adding a full 5 cents to the tax rate, if possible.

The board should find enough savings to reduce the tax increase, if it’s unavoidable, while adequately funding services and continuing to meet debt obligations.

That’s a tall order.

Unfortunately, we have no sage advice for the commissioners as they negotiate a final blueprint for county spending.

We ask the board to listen carefully to voters and community stakeholders who have equal interests in the budget.

And perhaps the commissioners should forgo their stipends and all other county perquisites as a symbolic gesture, at least until the funding crisis is resolved.

The board should cut its own budget before it cuts anyone else’s.