Pierce County Commissioners got an earful from residents during a roughly two hour long public hearing on the county's proposed $16.74 million spending plan last Wednesday night.
A full house packed the upstairs meeting room at the Southeast Georgia Regional Agriculture Center (SEGARAC).
Dozens of speakers came to the podium telling commissioners they did not want the millage rate increased even though public hearings on the millage rate increase are actually scheduled for tomorrow, Nov. 6 and next Thursday, Nov. 13.
Offerman Mayor Brenda Denison encouraged commissioners to work together to look for savings and balance the budget.
“When we can’t afford something at home, we have to tighten our belts and we don't buy it,' Denison said.
Denison criticized what she identified as things that don’t make sense.
She pointed out the county has not finished construction of the new Otter Creek Fire Station, but still includes money for beaver trapping. The trapping program helps to keep beaver dams from washing out county maintained roads.
“You care more about the beavers than you do our firefighters,” she said. “That just don’t make sense.”
Several residents who addressed the commissioners were critical of County Manager Raphel Maddox for not getting a better handle on the county's finances before it got to the point where a 1.844 millage rate increase is required.
County Chairman Neal Bennett defended Maddox and Maddox defended himself.
Bennett said insurance costs and personnel raises are the large bulk of the budget.
Bennett pointed out we have been losing employees prior to the salary increases because they were going elsewhere to find work. He also said cutting benefits like health insurance would hinder getting and keeping good employees.
Maddox said services must be paid for with taxes.
“Citizens expect a certain amount of service with their roads, EMS, law enforcement. It takes money to provide those things and property taxes are the bulk of how we fund it. We don’t have big industries to help offset the costs,” he explained.
Commissioners asked for input on how to cut the budget, but no one came forward.
Linda Herrin had a unique suggestion to control costs at the recreation department.
She asked commissioners to run the recreation department with volunteers and fund it by holding fundraisers.
Third district Commissioner Randy Dixon said Pierce County was already playing catch up with recreations.
“All our neighboring counties have better recreation facilities than we do,” he said.
No other residents made suggestions on how to cut the budget, though commissioners provided a budget summary that included a form for making such suggestions.
Commissioners will hold public hearings on the millage rate increase beginning tomorrow at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13.
A called meeting to set the millage rate and adopt the budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17.
All of the hearings and the meeting will be held at the SEGARAC.
