Property Tax Meeting

The bottom line was that they proposed a .25 millage reduction, with the idea that it is "tentative" and that they would look for "more".

This still represents a 17% increase in spending over last year, and that doesn't even take into account the revenues from new construction which is not on the tax rolls yet.

I had LOTS of personal reactions to the various commissioner's responses to the public (boy, you can REALLY tell who is not seeking re-election), but suffice it to say that some of the commissioners had not really studied the budget and don't have a real grip on how the process is supposed to work. (I wish I had a recording of the crowd reaction to one lame-duck commissioner's comments...they were about an inch away from lighting the torches and searching the countryside for the monster....think Young Frankenstein - "A riot is an ugly t'ing")

Major kudos to the Walton County Taxpayer's Association for a well-thought-out presentation. They got all of the applause. There were several well spoken citizens, all of whom simply asked for the Commission to try to get by with a smaller increase in spending. Some of the commissioners kept referring to "spending cuts", when all anyone asked for was a reduction in spending increases.

I am not expecting much beyond the .25.

Thanks for the update (here4good) I wish the millage rate reduction would have been higher, every penny counts especially when your taxes increased 600% in 2005. I hear our taxes are not as high as some areas. It just kicks your butt when they increase them and your not expecting it. ....................................