While Catoosa County commissioners found wiggle room in their proposed 2015 budget, it wasn’t enough to avoid raising property taxes.
The five-member governing body voted 4-1 last week to approve the county budget and set a millage rate, with Commissioner Bobby Winters dissenting.
On a property assessed at $125,000, the net property tax paid would be $1,218.72, up from $1,207.63. That $11.09 represents an increase of .231 mils.
That’s down from an estimated $34 increase the commission was initially considering. After public hearings and work sessions, the county found a way to lessen expenditures by an additional $300,000.
“We found a way to reduce our proposed budget,” said Catoosa County Finance Director Carl Henson. “It’s a combination of a lot of things, but we felt like we did a good job.”
Commission Chairman Keith Greene, who sat in the budget work sessions and worked with citizens who had questions, was at ease over the slight increase.
“It’s never easy, but I feel like we reduced as much as we could while … maintaining for our future,” Greene said. “We’re doing a lot in this county and we’re growing and this is what we need.”
Commissioner Jim Cutler was quick to point out that of the example property tax shown, only $318 of the $1,218 would actually go to the county government.
But citizens are still feeling ignored, said Joann Stiles of Ringgold, who spoke after the vote was held.
“So this is two years in a row that you’ve raised taxes on us. How about you actually try to cut the budget next year so we’re not back here doing the same thing?” Stiles asked. “It may look good to you now, but it’s not.”