THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL)--It's the words homeowners like Richard Harrell hate to hear, those words are higher property taxes.
"It seems like every year our taxes go up," said Richard Harrell.
This could be the case again this year if Thomas County commissioners pass a more than 36-percent tax increase to incorporated areas and nearly 43-percent for un-incorporated areas.
"I'm not really in favor of that kind of increase, i'm looking at what is necessary and what we can get by with," Ken Hickey, Thomas County Commissioner. District 3
Commissioner Hickey says it's something they may have to do in order to keep them from cutting vital services from the county.
"The only alternative that we have is to reduce and cut services which is going to multiply the problems that we have," said Hickey.
Hickey says an average house in the county costs about $150,000 a year--and with the tax increase, residents are looking at paying at least $150 dollars more.
Much of the money collected would go towards raises for county workers plus cut down on nearly $4-million dollars in health care costs.
Captain Steve Jones with the sheriff's department says he's on the fence.
"I'm a property tax payer, I'm also a county employee, I don't want to see my taxes go up anymore than anyone else does but i have to weigh out but i have to weigh out the percentage of increase versus the return," said Jones.
But homeowners like Harrell say either way he doesn't want the increase.
"Its puts more of burden financially on you and stress and everything else, i think they should have a flat rate tax and be done with it," said Harrell.
Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the issue on August 14th.
