Citizens gather for Ben Hill budget discussion - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Citizens gather for Ben Hill budget discussion

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FITZGERALD, GA (WALB) -

The on-going budget crisis in Ben Hill County likely will mean higher property taxes when bills go out later this year.

Commissioners voted to lay off county workers for three weeks, but that wasn't enough to balance the budget.

Now property owners are speaking out against a tax hike that commissioners approved to increase revenue.

The millage rate for Ben Hill County hasn't increased in four years, but property owners could soon see a 7 percent increase in the county tax rate as commissioners try to get their budget under control before December 31st.

"We just have to be more efficient on how we operate and the amount of money we spend," says Western District County Commissioner Scott Downing.

County Commissioners voted to raise the millage rate one mil, that's a 7% hike. But some residents say they shouldn't be punished for the county's lack of planning.

"It's not always going to be popular but to me it would be more popular than raising taxes on people that are already paying their taxes," says Ben Hill County taxpayer Jeremy Cox.

Cox has lived in Ben Hill for 10 years and says his family isn't going anywhere. He says everyone lives on a fixed income and local leaders should also live within their means.

"I think they need to re-examine their budget. You have to see what you can cut. There's always things you can cut. There's things that are surplus even though we may not see it."

He, along with many others, say the county should cut services and jobs instead of increasing taxes.

"Cut jobs, other jobs are being cut in out community, at other locations they are being cut, within our own work force they are being cut , corporate wide. So I just think hard decisions have to be made," says Cox.

Western District County Commissioner Scott Downing says he didn't vote for the tax increase, instead agreeing to make major budget cuts.

"When you need $500,000, you have to start talking about personnel so we don't like to do that, but that's just the nature we're in right now. We don't have the money and that's just probably what's going to end up being done."

Commissioners approved the millage rate increase last week.

They must have three public hearings before it can go into effect.

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