Houston County Adopts FY 2018 Tax Rate, Budget
Residents Voice Concern over Garbage, Road Conditions
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
HOUSTON COUNTY – Houston County now has a budget to work with for the upcoming fiscal year (FY) after the Houston County Commissioners Court adopted the proposed financial blueprint for the upcoming year on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
After the final public hearing on the proposed FY 2018 budget was held, a motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to adopt the budget as presented.
The next agenda item considered by the court was the adoption of a tax rate to fund the budget. County Judge Jim Lovell said the tax rate was comprised of a tax rate of $0.4767 per $100 dollars of property valuation for maintenance and operations functions and $0.0633 for the interest and sinking portion of the tax rate.
“This is effectively a 3.87 percent increase in the tax revenue,” the judge said.
As the meeting continued, a presentation was given by M.D. and Judy Dell’Osso regarding unsolved garbage dumping at the corner of CR 4020 and 4030.
“We love nature, we enjoy the outdoors and we respect the environment,” J. Dell’Osso said. “Obviously as you drive our roads, that view is not shared by everyone as evidenced by the litter. We try to help out and pick up litter as we drive out to our property. Today, we want to discuss this illegal dump we have to pass every time we go out to our property.”
M.D. Dell’Osso said the dump area “… is just not acceptable.”
He explained former Environmental Control Officer Ashley Perry had helped clean-up the area along with Precinct One Constable Morris Luker. Dell’Osso said the constable had recently spoken with the property owners and had secured a promise from them that the area would be cleaned up by the end of September.
Following the illegal dump discussion, Houston County resident Lonnie Ellis addressed the court about the deteriorating conditions along CR 1035 and 1045.
Tadmor residents Mittie Wiley Williams, Marva Anglin and Eva Jean Mills also spoke before the court about the conditions on CR 1140, CR 1135 and CR 4710.
A video of the road conditions was played for those in attendance which showed the current status – while not spectacular – was not as deteriorated as first indicated.
Prior to the budget and tax rate discussions, the commissioners were asked to deliberate the approval of a Houston County Premises Use permit for the 81st Annual World Championship Fiddlers’ Festival, slated for Sept. 23.
“This application is to use the courthouse lawn and property,” Lovell said. “The Fiddlers Festival is going to be moved back to the square, where it used to be held years ago.”
Paul Stringer, representing the Fiddlers’ Festival organization said there had been a scheduling conflict which necessitated the move from the city park.
“We don’t know whose fault it was, but we just got bumped you might say. We looked all over town and it seems like the square was the best we could find. It was held there years ago and this might just be back to the beginning,” Arnold said.
After a few minutes of discussion, the permit was approved.
“If it works out, we just might be back again to ask to have it there every year. I hope it works out. We think it will help the downtown area,” he added.
In other matters brought before the court:
- The commissioners approved the minutes from previous meetings.
- The payment of bills and expenses incurred by the county were approved.
- Budget amendments were approved by the court.
- The Houston County Environmental and the Community Service Reports, were received as information by the commissioners.
- The court approved the salaries of four full-time jailers and two part-time jailers.
- A premises use permit was granted to the World championship Fiddlers’ Festival
- The court accepted a donation of the proceeds of a timber cut from the right-of-way on CR 4675.
- The salaries for all officers and employees of Houston County were approved.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
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