Bulloch County Commissioners held their first of three public hearings on the proposed property tax increase on Monday, August 7, 2023 in the Commission meeting room at the Bulloch County North Main Annex. The purpose of the public hearing is to allow for citizens to voice their opinions or concerns for the tax increase.
The next two hearings are scheduled for Monday, August 14 at 6:30 PM and Monday, August 21 at 6:30 PM. Both of these meetings will be held in the Bulloch County North Main Annex.
Chair Roy Thompson opened the meeting going over decorum rules and other rules for the meeting. He then introduced Tom Couch, County Manger.
Mr. Couch gave a brief presentation on the proposed Tax increases. He said that he knows they can't satisfy every concern a citizen has but they are willing to try. He told the audience that If you are ideology opposed to a tax increase probably nothing we can do to change that.
He made several points about the budget:
- 90% of the budget is personnel and support cost
- 80% public safety directed
- Most all other county services will remain basically at status quote.
- We don't look at budgeting and finances lightly.
- Self evident truth that the counties level of service has not kept up with growth.
- Compare to other peer counties, we do not spend ridiculously
- We are at par - but spend more on recreation and public works but less on many others.
- Work hard at cost efficiencies.
- 5% of property assessment growth is in new development
- 13% in property growth comes from reassessments
Sheriff Noel Brown spoke next. He said, "There was a time in this county when nothing was done for a long time. This budget need did not happen overnight. It represents several years of not doing anything. Doing more with less is over. If you trust these folks, they have a game plan to make this work. You trust me to protect you and this county. I need your support to do this. We are having to compete with the ports and other agencies paying officers $33 per hours. We can't pay that, but we have to as competitive as possible to recruit and keep good people."
Chair Thompson introduced Ted Wynn, Public Safety Director to close out the staff comments. Mr. Wynn said, "fire and ems calls for service have outpaced the counties staff and ability. EMS working out of two stations to cover the entire county is unacceptable. With the new budget, hopefully by January 30th they will grow from two stations to four EMS stations. It is a fact that if we don't get to you in 4 or 5 minutes you die. We are working to do everything possible to save your life in a time of emergency."
Kristie King, Bulloch County Finance Director hopes to have the full budget made available on the Bulloch County website by Wednesday, August 9th. Everything but the capital projects budget.
Citizens speak
20 citizens signed up to speak. 16 actually spoke. Four either left before it was time to speak or decided that others had said what they wanted to say. At the bottom of the story we will include the live stream of the full meeting. This is a summary of what each person said in order to give our readers a feel for the areas of concern. It does not represent word by word quotes. The live stream will give you an opportunity to watch the meeting and comments in entirety. We did not receive a list of names, so some of the names of citizens may be misspelled as well.
Lawton Sack - Came to speak to you tonight because I have been getting lots of questions from members of the Republican party. I have done a lot of listening, My hope is that each of you will do the same. Two of the questions have I keep hearing are: 1) have you chosen corporations over citizens? 2) Has the decision been to raise taxes already been made? It seems corporations over are being prioritized over citizens through tax abatements to big corporations. We didn't vote for them to come, but feel like they have to pay for them.
Re-framing this argument that we are against public safety and law enforcement if we are against these tax increases is not accurate. When someone is a conservative and does not want taxes raised, especially when the budget has increased is over $10 million is a fair concern. We want the services and $2 million to public safety and $2 million for other employees. But it seems $6 million has not been accounted for.
We want to see where the money is going. These citizens are surprised by these increases. Be courageous, especially the ones who run on a conservative platform and decrease spending. We have seen lots of growth with physical responsibility and we want you to continue to do that.
Bruce Simon - We know growth is from the industry. We understand that 60% of tax is carried burden of the county the other 40% is commercial. No more abatements for new industry. Enough is Enough. Been asking for a homestead tax freeze, but have heard nothing. We need to figure this budget out. All of these abatements given is almost criminal knowing what we the tax payers have given to these industries. We are going to have people loose their homes and property. Please look at this before you vote this tax increase in. We would like to see the budget before this is approved.
Joan Price Adien - lives in Iron gate and speaks as a conservative republican living in a county that is 2/3 republican. Low taxes have attracted people to this community. Tax abatements given to industries that can afford. Over 80k citizens have to pay for a few thousand jobs to recruit these industry. I ask the commissioners to stand with citizens and decrease spending and not raise taxes. Also please inform citizens about homestead exemptions to help with taxes. only 1/3 of citizens who are eligible for homestead exemptions are taking it.
Cassandra Mikell - received a lot of feedback from the community and citizens are questioning actions by the commission. Increasing property taxes is not what citizens want. $5 million increase by property valuations. The tax increase is an additional $5 million through millage rate increase. Bryan County continues to decrease millage rates. Citizens will be greatly impacted. Her subdivision will have a 48% increase. What happens if economy takes a turn for the worst?
Christiania Lemon - been here 25 years and my father and I are looking at a combined increase of over $1,000 on our property. A plandemic, an out of control corrupt national government. Listening to young people, talking about purchasing land to put a camper on it. Their dream of home ownership is pretty much gone. Will not be able to stand the increased. We owe it to young people to support them. I am not opposed for taxes but significant increase is what I am opposed to. Please give additional consideration.
Len Fatica - lives in Statesboro. We understand growth in the county to support new industry. We know public safety and utility upgrades are necessary. There has been a discussion on how to raise the needed funding. Why did we get put in this position. Building of new plants and what we have to do to support it. The state has not allocated any funding to help us deal with this growth. The state has $6 billion of excess funds. Why don't we petition them to help us. What about a low interest bond issue with the state to cover this. We get a loan from the state and we can pay it back once we start generating revenue from the businesses. As a senior citizen I am concerned. Low cost of living and low taxes is why I an many moved here.
David Reed - my tax money is supporting these factories. They haven't bought the county a bicycle and not a fire truck. They are making millions and I make thousands. The could buy things to help. But they haven't done this. Should be an impact fee on all of these building. You aren't going to run water and sewer lines by my house on 46. These companies making millions in tax savings.
Ronnie Daniels - this tax increase is hitting the senior citizens hard. It is like you are trying to push the senior citizens out of Bulloch. What have these companies done for out community? They are getting a tax break for 10 years. Then after that they get a 50% break. Please look after your senior citizens. This tax hurts. It hurts bad.
Jane Sack - this is about the baby boomers. I have a lot of widow lady friends who live in the city who will be hit with the county taxes who are so upset. Not sure how to make it. They are hurting. One friend has had to have another friend move in with her to make it. It is not easy making it especially with this increase.
Bill Emily - here to speak on behalf of senior citizens in our county that number 1,400. What are we doing differently in the 2024 budget that we have done in previous budgets. I have to cut my expenses to make my budget work. Do we set aside essential services first? Then if we have extra budgets then we go after those things if we have the money. When county department is asking for additional resources. How many Sheriff's deputies asking for? County funding all School Resources Officers. The schools are paying half which is about $54,000. Where is the additional funds coming from? The school systems have an excess of money. Why are they not paying for it all. How can you give employees raises when citizens are going deeper in debt.
Carlton Crinshaw - I am new to Bulloch County. Many of you knew Ralph Andrews a good friend of mine. I hung around Ralph because he answered tons of questions. After loosing Ralph I discovered he lived over here. They took all of my family on a full tour of the county. We wanted to live closer to our children. The Lord God Almighty owns it all. He created us all. Gave us a book to guide and lead us. He still owns every penny and dollar. The America I love and loss of life of DOD men died thinking it was OK. God can do miracles with one penny. 60 years in management if there are any problems it belongs to management. You have heard the hard pleading from county residents.
Cathy Todd - I have a little different take as a 30 years plus resident of the county. I spent a good bit of my work life in government work. Juggling a local budget is not an easy task, recruiting and keeping employees are difficult. I understand how difficult it is. In the $10.9 million revenue increase $10.3 comes from property taxes. 78% from backs of propietary owners.
$10.3 from property tax with a 9.4 million in expenditures. Only $5.4 million expenditures in general fund. $1.9 million to interdepartmental charges not explained. $1 million to capital outlays. How many mils does this equate to? 8% increase in salaries is very generous.
Rural fire find increase over 50% balance of increase in the budget is not explained. Where are those funds going?
Lucia Hurst - brought property many years ago as a student at GS. Never seen increase as high as it is now. 33% is a lot. As a stay at home mom we rely on one household income. Huge tax break is unconstitutional under the Georgia Constitution article 7 paragraph 3. We are entitled to vote on such an increase. Why didn't I get the right to vote. Why did I not get my constitutional referendum. Are people on Board of Elections compromising my right to vote? These factories don't care about out community. We need people with better negotiating skills in place.
Raymond Harris Sr. - a military vet so I don't pay tax. Don't feel the same pain, but I stand for all of these people who are in pain. I am speaking for the ones who don't know about this. Your citizens are going to feel this pain. Their income is not increasing per year. Lets be fair to the citizens. I am less than 1% being a black republican. Please cut the pork. I know this is needed but if their is any pork we can push down the road please do it.
Dr. Beth Williams - my family has been here since the inception of Bulloch. Paying more taxes in Bulloch than in Columbia county. Less than two weeks ago the county auctioned off property at the current rate.
Now you are asking for an additional $7 to $10 million. An engineer by trade. Been unclear communication. Bryan is paying less. We voted for you to support us. We act as though there is nothing between 0 and 40%. That is a wide margin. Please listen to us and take us seriously.
David Jackson - moved here in 2022. We didn't get no abatement or breaks to move here. It makes no sense to me. I understand budget and expenses and set a budget to accommodate our 13 chapters of the motorcycle organization lead.
My fair market value of my home increased over $30k. Do I eat or take money to go to a doctor. Waited almost 40 minutes for an ambulance it never came. Almost died. Live on Eldor road. We get no service. They occasionally mow the road or scrape the road. We have no police patrolling the area. Moved here because we wanted a better way of life. Came here to get away from growth. The plants only care about our money. They don't care about us.
Staff and commissioner comments
County Manager Tom Couch has taken notes on common things he heard tonight and hopes to provide answers after the meeting.
Commissioner Toby Connor reminded the audience that this is not easy for them. "We appreciate you all coming out. We are taxing ourselves as well. School resource offices are important that is important to us. Our children will be protected at all cost and our Senior citizens will be protected. Assure the audience this did not fall on death ears."
Chair Roy Thompson thanked citizens for coming out as well. It is difficult to hear that the first fire truck we purchased decades ago was $86K and now it cost over $500k.
Tom Couch tried to chronicle this but a few high level things.
Public didn't know is inaccurate statement. In June 2022 I said a property tax would be inevitable this year. To say you didn't know is not 100% true. But I can't deny the magnitude of it is a surprise.
Abatements I cannot defend them wholeheartedly. The reality is that the Bulloch County Development Authority can act independently of the commission. DABC sets the policy, rhythm and amount of abatements without our consent.
Impact fees we are open to look at that.
We don't have a utility revenue stream so we rely on property taxes.
Everyone will tell you we operate our core services of local government very conservative.
Employee raises during the pandemic no raises were given out. It has made our compensation fall behind for retention and recruitment. We have a 7% employee vacancy rate in Bulloch. Anything greater than 7% will put services in jeopardy.
No perfect solutions. We are listening and are sympathic and can emphasize with your concerns.
At the end of they day I understand your sentiment but deferring purchasing a few light bulbs want help us.
I believe it was a well thought out budget. If the commissioners decide to cut the millage rate then they would have to cut employees which means a hiring freeze or dipping further into reserves.
Commissioner Timmy Rushing said, "they began having budget retreats in September. We have not made our decision and are still working on it. We hear you and understand. This thing is going to cost me and I have a mom who is 88.:
Live Stream of meeting
