Baldwin County residents voice frustration as commissioners approve tax increase

The approved increase is smaller than the originally proposed 9.3 mills, but residents say higher bills will strain working families.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Baldwin County commissioners approved a 3.5-mill property tax increase Friday, setting the county’s rate at 13.26 mills after residents again urged leaders to cut spending and find other ways to address the county’s financial problems.

The new rate is up from 9.76 mills, an increase of roughly 36% in the millage rate.

“We cannot afford it, and we ask that you find another alternate way to raise money, and be more responsible and we need more checks and balances,” one resident said during the hearing.

The final increase is significantly smaller than the 9.3-mill increase Baldwin County originally advertised, which would have brought the rate to approximately 19.07 mills. Commissioner Sammy Hall proposed capping the increase at 3.5 mills during the first public hearing September 17.

The county has been working to address a roughly $15 million tax anticipation note due to Century Bank by December 31. Earlier this month, interim County Manager Paul Van Haute told commissioners the county did not have the money available to make that payment.

District 4 Commissioner Andrew Strickland said commissioners did not want to raise taxes but had to meet the county’s financial obligations.

“No commissioner wanted to raise taxes,” he said. “We were put in a position where we have to meet our obligations to the bank to satisfy the tax anticipation note. We have to meet our obligations to provide services to the citizens involving county and our employees. And the board found itself in a position where this was the least impact on taxpayers that would achieve all of these mandates really.”

Strickland said the county will continue looking at its expenditures and the possible sale of assets moving forward.

Many residents were upset with the vote, including Desiree Liggins, who said she is concerned about the increase and how it will affect working families.

“Some people, they may have it in their savings, some people are living paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “Most people in Baldwin County, the working class, have more than one job. There’s people that I work with at Lowe’s that work two or three jobs just to pay the bills and survive. So it’s going to hurt. This is going to hurt.”

Liggins said she and her husband own two properties in the county. She said one of the properties is paid off, so the higher taxes on that property will have to come out of pocket.

Liggins said that could mean cutting back on spending, especially ahead of the holidays.