GAINESVILLE - At Saturday morning's Republican Forum Hall County Commission Chairman Tom Oliver,during his State of the County address,chose not to dwell on the events of the past week that led to a change in administrative posts .
Oliver promoted the Glades Farm reservoir project in north Hall County, and said the new commission has challenges and choices this year when it comes to managing the budget with dwindling revenues.
Oliver said he does not support a property tax hike or cutting county services but estimated that county revenues could drop five percent because of plunging property values. An audience member asked him what would happen if revenues dropped as much as 20 percent.
"You're going to have to go up on taxes," Oliver said. "You don't like it but that's what you're going to be faced with."
Commission budget discussions for 2011 begin next month.
"We might have to make some adjustments, everything will be on the table," Oliver said.
Hall County's new vice chairman, Scott Gibbs, said taxpayers might prefer service cuts to a tax increase. County Commissioner Billy Powell said sales taxes have been falling and revenues continue to drop. Powell said a tax increase would be a last resort.
"The County still has to remain running," Powell said.
Commissioner Craig Lutz took the podium after Oliver spoke to say that he was elected not to raise taxes. He said he knew the past week had been difficult but it would be a brief period and the administrative team the county now has in place would help them address the challenges ahead.
Friday
October 18th, 2024
4:43AM
