Residents at Whitfield County hearing urge board not to approve a 77% millage increase

Dozens of residents spoke during the noon public comment session, many urging the board not to impose a large millage increase and raising concerns about fairness, transparency and the timing of the proposal.

"We are fully and fundamentally against a 77% millage rate increase," said McCray Kyra, identifying herself as the local Republican Party chair. Other speakers described personal hardship and urged the board to seek cuts before raising taxes. Greg Bates told commissioners: "We expect the same of you," urging officials to plan and cut earlier rather than asking for more money at budget time.

Multiple residents sought clarity about the composition of tax bills and why certain properties (including commercial or agricultural parcels) appear to pay less: Faye Messer asked why operators of multiple poultry houses appear to incur much smaller taxes per acre than smaller property owners. Several speakers also faulted county transparency on procurement and contracting and raised concerns about specific projects, including parks construction and a contract mentioned for Patterson Farms.

The chair and staff responded with clarifications during the hearing: Jensen noted that 70% of the total tax bill in unincorporated areas is school tax, that Prater's Mill was funded by grants rather than property-tax dollars, and that the West Side project is SPLOST-funded. He reiterated that decisions about millage would be taken after evening public comment and reminded residents of appeal processes for assessments.