The county bit the bullet when supervisors finally approved the 2018 budget.
They heard from the public in regard to their plans to increase millage by 4 mills. But for county roads to be improved the hike was necessary, according to the board, and that is just a start.
The plan is to pave 25 miles of roads within the county. The following year an additional 25 will be paved and on down the line. The fact that all of the supervisory districts have roads that are equally in disrepair will be the standard to spend equally in each district.
This sounds a little like the beat system; however, in defense of the board there are true needs in every district of the county. Accordingly, all tax payers will be able to see the benefit of the additional taxation.
Simpson County Tax Assessor Charles Baldwin, said the final value of a mill is set because the public utility rolls have not been approved by the state, but it appears the new valuation will be $198,000 for a mill. A school mill is slightly less because of fee reduced valuation at $195,000.
Unlike previous board hearings that have been poorly attended, this meeting had several residents in attendance.
Lewis Carter told the board he did not object to the increase; however, he felt that his section of the county, near the Pearl River, was being neglected. He said the culverts and drains were stopped up and this caused further damage to the existing roads. He concluded by telling the board he wanted better management than has been done in the past.
Thomas Lee, who lives on Monroe May Road, said that in the past 18 years his road has only been bush hogged four times and the most recent was last week when the road manager sent someone out. He said grass was growing through the asphalt. Road Manager Ben Warren responded that unfortunately the dead-end roads tend to get neglected. He said he has spoken with the road crews to improve this but said he would do so again to make sure service improves.
Allen Floyd addressed the board stating that the notice said the funds were intended to be used for paving and would not be diverted into other areas. Members of the board said it was their intention to only use those funds for road paving. He also questioned whether future funds would be spent that way and the board answered in the affirmative.
Coach Ernest Jaynes told the board he felt the board needed to make sure funds were spent county wide and that additional services like bush hogging needed to be taken care of.
Earl Woodard, former county employee, told the board he was opposed to raising taxes period. He said the materials and work being preformed is the problem. He said when he worked it was done properly. He went on to add he did not mind paying taxes if everything is done by procedure.
The new millage rate will be 103.5 mills compared to the pervious 99.5. The new budget for the county will be $17,280,899 compared to last year’s $15,765,272. Of the $17, 280,899 $10,160,370 will be funded through ad valorem taxes which include property and automobile taxes.
