The state board, within a reasonable time, shall fix a date for an initial hearing on the protest and may designate a deputy to hold the hearing, which shall be held in the county or in one of the counties in which the political subdivision is located. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by certified mail to the appropriate officials of the local government and to the first ten property owners whose names appear upon the protest, at least five days before the date fixed for the hearing. At all hearings, the burden shall be upon the objectors with reference to any proposed item in the budget which was included in the budget of the previous year and which the objectors propose should be reduced or excluded; but the burden shall be upon the certifying board or the levying board, as the case may be, to show that any new item in the budget, or any increase in any item in the budget, is necessary, reasonable, and in the interest of the public welfare.