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It is my hope that the property tax-paying citizens of Hall County will look very closely at what the commissioners are trying to do.
Despite the fact that property evaluations in Hall County have dropped 6 percent ($6.9 billion in 2010 to $6.5 billion in 2011), they are proposing to raise property tax levies by $6 million ($43 million in 2010 to $49 million in 2011).
Common sense dictates that, when times are tough, you should really squeeze your biggest spenders (Sheriff's Office., $30 million; judicial elected officials, $11 million; emergency services, $7 million) to reduce their spending at least by the average reduction needed. This is just the opposite of what the commissioners propose to do.
Property tax-paying citizens should tell their commissioners that this is the time for them to really manage county spending instead of asking the property owners to bail them out.
Jim Waldrep
Lula