The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners held a special called meeting at noon on Nov. 7, 2025, to continue a public hearing on the county's 2025 millage rate. Chairman Jevin Jensen presented data comparing current and past levy levels and noted rising county expenditures.
Jevin Jensen, chairman, told the board that the county's millage rate had fallen from 9.56 mills in 2016 to 4.35 mills for 2024 and said healthcare expenditures have increased 187% since 2016. Jensen framed those figures as background for the ongoing deliberation over whether and how to adjust the 2025 millage rate.
During the public-comment portion of the hearing, resident Daniel Alt voiced opposition to raising property taxes and asked the board to reduce spending instead. "He asked the Board to cut spending rather than raise property taxes," according to the hearing minutes; no formal response to that request was recorded in the minutes.
Earlier in the meeting, Commissioner Barry W. Robbins moved to approve the meeting agenda; Commissioner Greg Jones seconded the motion. The motion was approved 3-0, with Commissioners Jones, Robbins and Thomas recorded as in agreement. Commissioner Robby Staten participated via teleconference.
Jensen told attendees there would be another public hearing at 6 p.m. on the same day and that the board's vote on the millage rate would occur after that second hearing. The meeting adjourned unanimously.
The record does not include a proposed 2025 millage figure, the text of any motion to set a rate, or further debate; the next procedural step recorded in the minutes is the evening public hearing and the subsequent vote.