22-Cent Tax Increase Recommended By Putnam Budget Members

The Putnam County Budget Committee recommended a 22-cent property tax increase Tuesday.

The tax rate will climb to $2.95 if approved by the full county commission later this month.

Budget Committee member Jim Martin said his yes vote became the toughest decision he’s made as a county official.

“We try to look at the limited income people and try not to raise our taxes anymore than we have to,” Martin said. “But we had some items this year that probably should have been funded in prior years. If we’re not careful, it stacks up on us and we have a year like we’ve had this year. They all basically come due.”

14-cents of the increase will cover a $2.3 million shortfall within the county’s general fund. The other 8-cents provides about $1.3 million to the Putnam County School System.

Committee member Cindy Adams said she voted no because more cuts could have been made.

“My big thing was to cut spending down to where we could keep the tax increase at a minimum,” Adams said. “I was not successful in that, and I’m sorry because I feel like in most levels of government there is waste that can be tightened up if people really want to.”

Adams, Theresa Tayes, and Mike Atwood voted against the increase. Yes votes came from Johnathan Williams, Darren Wilson, Grover Bennett, Chris Cassetty, and Martin.

Wilson said not raising taxes has put the county in the same position year after year.

“Being self-employed, I hate taxes more than the next person does, but at the same time it’s a necessary evil. We have to have it to run our police, EMS and fire,” Wilson said. “If we don’t stop planning year-to-year and start looking down the road, we’re going to be here every year.”

Putnam County hasn’t seen a property tax increase since the 2012-2013 budget year. The county commission meets July 29th to consider the budget proposal.