Standing room only for tax meeting in Clermont

CLERMONT - It was standing room only Thursday night in Clermont as Hall Commissioner Scott Gibbs hosted a town hall meeting in Clermont to discuss the 2012 budget with its possible tax hike in the face of a shrinking property tax digest, plunging county revenues and an $11.5-million deficit.

Gibbs said he wanted to hear from citizens about the budget and for nearly two hours he heard support for the tax increase from county employees facing more cuts and from taxpayers opposed to the tax hike. They heard Gibbs say he would not vote for the 1.41 mill hike proposed by Commission Chairman Tom Oliver.

"It will be voted on the last meeting of the month and unless something changes I will be voting against the tax hike," Gibbs said.

Among county employees supporting the tax increase was Chief Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Burton, whose husband is a sheriff's deputy.

"Whether it's called a furlough day or an unpaid holiday its more money missing from their pay checks," Burton said, who added that qualified public safety employees would be leaving the county because of pay cuts if there is no tax increase.

Taxpayer Susan Collins said the county needed more employee efficiency, not more money.

"Raising the millage rate is not a good option," Collins said. "Getting more efficient is a good option."

Hall Republican party Executive Committee member Doug Aiken said the party opposed the tax increase.

"We're opposed whether it's a roll-up, roll-down, roll-over, bend down, none," he said.

Vicki Bentley from South Hall said it disturbed her that appeared tax payers and county employees appeared to have an "us versus them" attitude and this was a time for unity, not division, because the economy is hard on everyone.

Veteran Sheriff's Sergeant Tim Couch agreed, concluding the meeting by asking Gibbs to reconsider his planned "no" vote.

"As the lady said, it's not the citizens against the employees and it should not be that way," Couch said. "We're all in this together and if we are then I think a quarter a day on people's taxes is a small price to pay."

County Commissioner Ashley Bell said Thursday he will host a town hall meeting next Saturday, June 11th, at 9:30 at the Fair Street Neighborhood Center. (See separate story.)