More than 100 people showed up Monday night for a public hearing for a proposed 25-cent property tax increase in Sequatchie County.

“I’m one of the senior citizens that’s on a fixed income,” resident James Long said.

With trying financial times on the home front, “we’ve had to make concessions on food, energy, everything,” Mr. Long said.

The county should to the same thing as its residents and cut spending when money gets short, he said.

Most residents opposed the proposed hike while others wanted to know the reasons for it.

Commissioners voted to keep talks going before making a decision. They approved a motion to send the proposed budget back to committee for more discussion.

Commissioner Monty Long passed around a list of alternative ideas that many residents asked the commissioners to consider.

Mr. Long’s list included selling municipal bonds, applying for loans and grants, an aggressive plan to collect delinquent taxes, consolidation of county services and selling public property.

The county commission’s budget committee will meet at 6 p.m. CDT Aug. 14.

See Wednesday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.

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