Forsyth County will hold the line on taxes for general government spending, but County Commission Chairman Charles Laughinghouse warns the decision could lead to “extra draconian” spending cuts such as layoffs.
Without a tax increase, county staff has forecast a shortfall of as much as $15 million in the proposed $90 million general fund budget for 2010.
Laughinghouse was the only member of the five-member commission who supported a tax increase for general fund operations
Thursday’s vote came after three public hearings on plans to raise the millage for maintenance and operations and fire services by a combined 0.744 mills, or about $53 on a $200,000 home.
“I don’t think this is the right time to be raising taxes,” Commissioner Brian Tam said before the meeting.
The budget will not be given final approval until December, and officials are looking at employee layoffs, furloughs and unpaid holidays, spokeswoman Jodi Gardner said.
Labels: foreclosure, Foreclosures, Forsyth, Forsyth County, tax hike
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Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:00 AM
