CANTON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Madison County residents returned to the Board of Supervisors chambers Monday night hoping to avoid previously proposed tax hikes.
Supervisors voted on the upcoming budget and tax increases during a special call meeting.
It will soon cost more money to live in Madison County.
The board of supervisors voted to raise millage rates.
Supervisor Gerald Steen told residents they began the budget process with deficits in the General Fund, Solid Waste Fund and shortfalls from upgrades to county fire protection.
He said the Road Department laid off employees at a savings of $500,000.00.
Residents oppose any increases and believe more cuts should be made.
The budget includes a 3% across the board pay raise for county employees.
No cuts will be made to the fire and sheriff's departments
In a 3 to 2 vote the board approved a 1.3 mil increase for solid waste, a .7 mil increase for fire protection.
That means a two mil hike for those living outside the city.
There will be a .5 mil increase county wide.
That equals a $5.00 increase in taxes on a house valued at $100,000.00 dollars in the city.
It is a $20.00 increase in the county.
Supervisors John Bell Crosby and Ronny Lott opposed the tax increase.
"This is what we need to continue to keep up what we expect in Madison County whether we go to the Tax Collector's Office or Assessor's Office or any office. This is what we need to keep up the services," said District 3 Supervisor Gerald Steen who voted for the tax increases.
"I would like to go into all the departments and see if there's any waste in any of them. We have numerous departments. I don't want to pick on any one department, but I want to see the fact that they have given all they can," said District 2 Supervisor Ronny Lott who voted against the tax increases.
Many homeowners want savings to come from returning to privatizing garbage collection.
John Moore is president of the Federation of Madison County Homeowner Associations.
The organization represents more than 5,000 property owners.
"Last week they were talking about 4.86 in the county and .8 on the municipalities. This is roughly half of what they talked about last week. So we're still disappointed. We know that there's other areas that can be cut," said Moore.
The millage increase goes into effect in October.
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