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Board of Commissioners Meeting Summary
Public Engagement and Decision-Making
The recent Board of Commissioners meeting, which extended for more than three hours, showcased the community’s active participation in local governance. Citizens voiced their strong concerns over a proposed 30% tax increase, and the elected officials listened attentively. The outcome was a unanimous agreement among board members to maintain the previous year’s millage rate, scraping the 30% increase.
Following this decision, the board resolved to carefully review and prioritize necessary expenditures, seeking to reduce or eliminate costs wherever possible. Such collaboration between community members and their representatives is rare, and the board’s commitment to fiscal responsibility deserves recognition.
The meeting was not without drama as former commissioner Kelly Robinson came to the podium and with noticeable volume and emphatic gestures accused the BOC of mismanaging funds left them by the previous Board…the one on which he served. Sorry but I couldn’t help but see the hypocrisy in his remarks, knowing his own history of financial decisions. Almost a third of the citizens who spoke that night criticized the fixed-route bus system, calling it a waste of money while only serving a small percentage of the citizens. And they criticized the many cars issued to staff and officials, whether needed or not; namely the coroner who has numerous deputies who perform most, if not all, of her duties. It was Robinson himself who had originally advocated for the bus system and was responsible for doubling the coroner’s salary during his term. Furthermore,when the BOC was asked what percentage in the 2022 SPLOST should go to TRANS- transportation, he voted to allocate zero (0) dollars!!! This lowered funds for Roads and added to Parks/Libraries.
I COULD WRITE A BOOK....H-M-M
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