Close to 15 people were present during this week’s public hearing on the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. And those in attendance were split in their opinion of the possible tax increase of 6.6 mills based on the county board and the county school district’s request.
The Yazoo County Board of Supervisors plans to increase its millage rate by 2.1 mills from 70.8 to 72.81 mills. And based on the Yazoo County School District’s ad valorem tax request, 4.5 mills would be added to the county’s intentions, increasing the total millage rate by 6.6 mills.
Pat Anderson has been a resident of the community for the past 46 years. Her family business, Anderson’s Jewelry, has been a part of the local business community since 1946. She said she felt it was “poor timing” to ask for such a hefty increase in troubling economic times.
“I can’t believe we are suggesting a tax increase with the way the economy is right now,” Anderson said. “We see our dollars dwindling down as our taxes are going up.”
Anderson said evidence of dire times can be seen at her business where she said some customers are selling the family jewelry to pay their utility bills.
“That is the kind of stuff we see that you don’t,” she said. “I don’t see how it’s going to turn things around in this community. You don’t have people moving into Yazoo, and I don’t see how we can sustain a tax increase.”
Looking over the proposed budget, County Administrator Donna Kraft said a large portion of the budget increase includes an increase with retirement and an employee pay raise.
“But that is a double-edge knife,” Anderson said. “You are giving your people a pay raise, but you are turning around and are taxing more on their properties, more on their automobiles, taxing the businesses. We are out here in the trenches, and we can’t do it.”
Anderson said the county board could have given the salary increase for its employees “years ago when the money was flowing.”
“They think they are getting more added to their paychecks, but they really are not,” she continued.
Supervisor Joseph Thomas Jr. reminded the audience that the county board is looking for a 2.1 millage increase while the Yazoo County School District is seeking an increase of 4.5 mills.
“This is my first rodeo,” Thomas said. “But these are the things we said we were going to address. I have to address them because that was my platform. We really need so much more, but we are having to compromise because of the school district.”
Thomas added that many of the county employees have wages “comparable to McDonald’s.”
Supervisor Lee Moore said the county’s millage increase would add about $20 to homestead property assessed at about $100,000. He also said the county school district request would account for about $66 more.
“We have to cut back on our stuff, why can’t the government cut back on theirs,” asked one man in the audience.
“You are going to have an influx of people leaving,” added Anderson. “They already are. Your timing is just extremely poor.”
Thomas asked Anderson if she has seen an improvement within the county since the arrival of the board’s new administration.
“No, I have not,” Anderson replied. “It’s gotten worse. If I was to move here, I would be going somewhere else.”
However, Remona Suttlar told the county board she supports their budget proposal, particularly providing employees with a salary increase. She also added that she has worked in a county office in the past and said she feels employees are underpaid.
“We would go four or more years without raises,” Suttlar said. “That’s horrible. The employees do deserve a raise.”
Suttlar also said the school district’s request is “a different animal.”
“It wasn’t the board of supervisors,” she said. “They had nothing to do with that. Their hands were tied. It falls on the state legislators. But I feel things are looking up, but we are still in a tight situation. I know you hate to raise taxes, but right now there is a need. Two mills is not asking too much. You have to do it.”
Also, in support of the county’s progress, Cynthia Walker also asked the county board to show the citizens the improvements that would come with a tax increase.
“Where much is given, much is required,” she said. “Let us see the improvements.”
