Dougherty County Commission approves increase millage rate

On Monday, the Dougherty Co. commission approved an increase in millage rate

ALBANY, GA- In a public hearing Monday morning, the Dougherty County Commission approved the millage rate increase, which increases property taxes for Dougherty County residents.

The commission allowed Albany citizens to speak their voice at the hearing. Robert Lewis says he sees this change as “crisis management” and believes it is very concerning to him as a retired Dougherty County citizen.

“I’m concerned about the totality of our community, we have been here for over fifty years. I’ve seen the changes I’ve supported the government and certainly we wanted to make sure it worked but as it is right now crisis management impacts senior citizens and the community overall in a very very devastating way” says Lewis.

However, citizens were not alone is disagreeing with the proposal. County Commissioner Gloria Gaines disproved of the millage increase since its proposal, and questioned the commission if they had done enough to prevent it.

During the meeting, Gaines said “I don’t know if we really tried to avoid the tax increase or not, I didn’t, it’s on me. I’m not criticizing this commission by any means, I’m not even criticizing this administration, but I am saying I did not do those things which should have been done.”

County Commissioner Clinton Johnson says he “happily voted against it” and believes more transparency with citizens is crucial.

“We have to do a better job, and I’m putting that blame on us, of informing citizens. What they see on the news and social media is that we get 18 million dollars… so they think we’re cash flushed when we’re not. And so it’s hard to have so many things supposedly coming into our economy and then to also turn up taxes on the property owners in our community” Johnson explained.

The approved 3.549 increase means the new millage rate will sit at about 19.069 mills. This increase will depend on the value of the home and properties with $100,000 or more will see increases within the year.