Jones Commissioners Say No to Tax Increase

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Residents in Jones County are breathing a sigh of relief after commissioners voted not to raise taxes, a discussion that outraged many who say they already pay enough. Dozens showed up for Monday’s commission meeting.

“I do not think this county needs any tax increase at all!,” said Jone County citizen Robert Andrews.

“Forget about trying to raise taxes,” one resident pleaded. “What I have is dramatically limited, I’ve got to live within my means.”

The 3 mill increase would help fund more positions for the public works department, and would go toward the Jones County industrial park…a project one citizen called a thorn in the side of the county.

“The industrial authority can be put on hold,” one man said.

“You need to manage the money that you have and not ask for any more,” said another.

The board voted to keep the old millage rate, a move that County Administrator Mike Underwood said would hardly affect taxpayers. Citizens in the end got their way, but the one dissenting voice, Commissioner Tommy Robinson, said it’s not enough.

“Every property owner will be paying more than they should be paying. The rollback just guarantees you’ll take in the same amount of money you did last year. I don’t think it’s enough. I don’t think this board has begun to look at places and adopt measures to reduce spending,” Robinson told 41NBC.

The board also voted to pay for certain projects like road repairs with penny tax funds, and not include them in the 2014 budget.