Polk County commissioners adopted the tax rate approved by the budget committee, set the county budget, gave their okay for the school system to lease four new buses and postponed several actions so committees could first consider decisions.
The actions came during the regular meeting of the commission Thursday, July 30, at the courthouse in Benton.
Commissioners approved the tax proration of $2.5120, the same tax rate as last year, set by the budget committee, with Commissioner James Woody passing.
In the budget committee meeting, Woody wanted to discuss revenue, and specifically mentioned a property tax increase, but was voted down by his fellow commissioners.
Commissioners then voted on the budget approval which included:
•General fund: $9,126,462;
•Sanitation: $567,413;
•Drug fund: $25,612;
•Highways: $4,759,366;
•Schools: $18,898,084;
•School/federal projects: $1,134,215;
•School/cafeteria: $1.173,696; and,
•Debt service: $2,384,646.
Woody again passed on the vote. Commissioner Dewey Esquinance voted no saying the budget does not take into account equal pay for equal work.
Commissioners gave the go ahead for the school system to lease four new buses, which became necessary when the state ordered four buses taken out of service. The money will come from the school budget.
Commissioners postponed an offer of free wi-fi for the courthouse area in return for permission to put an antenna on the courthouse roof until the web committee could meet.
Meetings were also discussed but not scheduled for the ambulance committee to consider requests for proposals, and the building committee to move forward with tearing out boat ramps on the Hiawassee River.
All the commissioners were present for the meeting except Jeremy Kimsey.
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(Editor’s note: During the budget committee meeting, the charitable donations were decided. For the complete story, please see A10).