After seeing the numbers and how they were effected following a 7.2 percent cut across the board in every county department, commissioner
Kevin Mooneyham pulled back his suggestion that he made at the County
Commission meeting last Tuesday. Mooneyham at the end of the County
Commission meeting suggested that the Budget Committee needed to come up
with figures to balance the budget if there was not an increase in the
property tax rate to fund the budget. At the request of County Executive
Mike Gannon, James Starnes, a full time auditor was brought in to look at
the numbers and as a result came up with the 7.2 percent cut. After
Commissioner Mooneyham saw the numbers and heard testimonials about how
each department would be effected, he quickly suggested that the Committee
look at other ways to fund the budget.
When it came down to it the Committee agreed on a 12 cent property tax
increase. Committee members Kevin George, Mark Barker, Clint Higgins and
Bill Jennings voted for the recommendation. Committee member James Adkins
voted against it wanting the record to state he would have voted for a
bigger increase. The increase will fund the appropriations in the amounts
as they were recommended during the last two Cannon County Commissioners
meetings. If passed by the Cannon County Commissioners the property tax
would go from the current $2.32 to $2.44 per $100 of assessed property.
The recommendation will go before the Cannon County Commissioners in a
special called meeting tentatively scheduled for Thursday September 15th.
