Politics & Government

Second Public Hearing on Tax Increase

The finance director said the county must advertise for the highest number possible, but it will probably be lower with residents paying about $35 to $38 a year more in taxes.

The will have a second public hearing Tuesday on a proposed millage rate increase.

The second of three public hearings will be held at the at 6 p.m. following the 3 p.m. work session.

The commissioners have said they will advertise a millage increase of up to 15 percent, which the increase on an average-priced home would be around $49 a year.

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The finance director said the county must advertise for the highest number possible, butΒ it will probably be lower with residents paying about $35 to $38 a year more in taxes.

This is all in anticipation of a possible $5 million shortfall in the 2012 budget due to a reduction in property taxes during recent years.

Find out what's happening in Canton-Sixeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At the , there was little public comment on the millage rate.

At that same meeting County Manager Jerry Cooper presented the county's financial situation. According to Cooper, the county could reduce the deficit to just $3 million by making several adjustments.

Those include using the sheriff's office jail fund, using the pension credit, monitoring the increased costs for 2012 elections, maintaining vacant positions, increasing court fines and traffic citations, lowering the business license revenue, selling an old administration building, offering severance options for legal council and a few other options.

The next public hearing will be Aug. 2.

In other business, the county will hear from the finance director on where the county stood financially at the end of June.

The designs for several parks will also be presented at the 3 p.m. work session.


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