Walton County's first workshop for the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs.
Any truth to the rumor that the commissioners approved a huge tax increase today?
Today they voted to adopt a budget and initial millage rate. Both of those will now become the basis of your TRIM (truth in millage) notice.
They will hold two public hearing on the budget in September.
The budget adopted would have required an increase in the millage rate from 3.4076 mills to 3.9 mills. That is about a 14% increase in the tax rate.
The amazing thing that happened is Commissioner Pridgen made a motion to increase the millage rate to 4.14 mills, was seconded by Commissioner C Jones. Commissioner Comander stated she could not support the increase. Vote was 4-1 with Comander being the no vote.
That means they voted to set the initial rate about 3 million above the rate necessary to have a balanced budget with no explanation of what they planned to do with the excess revenue.
The voted increase in the millage (tax rate) is about 22%.
WTH? I thought C. Jones promised us when she ran that she would never vote for a tax increase? Pridgen had stated before he was unopposed that he had never voted for a tax increase and would never do so? What do you mean they did not give an explanation? How are we supposed to support such an increase when business is down 20-30 percent due to the oil spill and the economy?
What is the position of the Taxpayer's Association regarding this?
So they voted in a 21.5% increase in the millage rate, with absolutely no explanation?
Would the first (14%) increase that you mention have kept the budget at last year's levels?
I know I am naive, but state laws require them to start at the millage rate which would match last year's budget and then justify the increase. I realize that this commission has no qualms about breaking the law, but this is a little bald-faced, even for them.