A “gavel-in-and-out” meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners on Valentine’s Day ended up lasting just over 10 minutes as two public comments on hot-button local issues were heard.
A notice was sent out on Monday, Feb. 13 that no action was scheduled for the Tuesday meeting and that there would be no public comment period.
According to County Manager Derek Roland, the Feb. 14 meeting still occurred as the request from a couple of the county commissioners to postpone the meeting due to Valentine’s Day happened after publication of newspapers the previous week. Thus, the county didn’t feel like it could sufficiently give public notice about a cancelation. All the commissioners, minus John Shearl who had a prior engagement, were present.
Around 10 people showed up for the meeting. Before adjourning, Board Chair Paul Higdon asked if any members of the audience wanted to give a public comment.
The board recessed until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, when a full meeting was scheduled.
Revaluation concerns
First up was Jerry Denney, who talked about the new property revaluation assessments that Macon County property owners received. Denney asked for the subject to be addressed at the next commissioners’ meeting with as much detail as possible and stated his desire to lower the tax rate “as much as possible.”
“I’m just trusting that you group of guys will give a thorough explanation of what will happen to the millage rate,” Denney said. “Just want to make sure that we’re treated fairly in regard to this and that there will be a proper assessment that we can live with.”
Higdon said he’s already been confronted by a member of the public asking why the county raised his taxes, explaining that it’s not a tax rate increase, but a property value increase.
Tax rates for 2023 have not yet been set by the board of commissioners.
Roland said that the average property value increases they’ve seen is 54% to 58%. He explained that back in 2019, the revaluation average was a 5% decrease. In 2015, the county passed an ordinance to make the revaluation every four years. The state mandates a revaluation at least once every eight years.
In 2007, Roland said the revaluation was the highest in 30 years, up an average of 70%. But after the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007-08 caused a recession, the county canceled the planned 2011 revaluation so values wouldn’t depress so much.
The commissioners have control over the property tax rate in Macon County each budget year, which currently is 40 cents per $100 valuation, one of the lowest tax rates in the state. The upcoming budget will include what the revenue neutral tax rate is, Roland said. He said that rate, at this time, is a moving target as the revaluation process is still ongoing and there are appeals to be heard. Roland added that there’s a “growth factor” that will be included in the suggested revenue neutral rate.
The commissioners are not required to adopt a revenue neutral rate, just to pass a balanced budget where the money coming in equals the money being spent. However, the commissioners seem receptive to the idea of lowering the property tax rate.
“We don’t want to take any more money out of your pocket,” Higdon said to those in attendance.
The first draft of the 2023-24 budget is scheduled to be presented at the county commissioners meeting on May 9.
Support for the library
Nancy Scott voiced her support for the Macon County Public Library and education system.
“I want you to know that not every book in the library is going to please you, it is not meant to,” Scott said. “If that library doesn’t have something to offend all of us, it’s probably not doing its job.”
Scott was referring to the Macon County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 7 where roughly 80 citizens attended and more than 15 people, including Commissioner Danny Antoine, spoke. Each person spoke against what they feel is the library and/or library system’s support of pro-LGBTQ books or displays while feeling their views against those displays or books were being silenced.
Scott, a retired educator, said it’s important how we use our words and how sometimes, intentional or not, “we give people permission to be bullies.”
“You’re upset about LGBTQ people or displays, and that gives other people permission to discriminate,” Scott said. “And that happens in the schools.”
Scott said the library staff does amazing things with the money they get.
None of the commissioners responded to Scott’s comments.