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Bradford County commissioners defend assessment decision after heated public comments; tentative budget hearing set for Sept. 10
Summary
Commissioners responded to angry public comments about a proposed assessment and defended their decision-making; the county announced a tentative millage and budget public hearing set for Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Members of the Bradford County Board of County Commissioners faced strongly worded public reaction to a recent decision involving a county assessment and defended the board’s process and intent during the meeting.
Commissioner Daughtry said he made the initial motion to represent constituents who elected him and that he had heard only a small number of comments against the action from his district and elsewhere. “What I did tonight was representing the constituents that put me up here,” Daughtry said. He said officials must weigh community needs over time and that the county cannot continue to sustain fire and rescue from general revenue alone.
Commissioner Connor (listed in the transcript as “Mister Connor”) told attendees he appreciates those who came to speak and said commissioners were elected to make tough decisions while considering the needs of the entire community, including elderly residents and households with limited incomes.
Commissioner Andrews apologized to members of the public who were treated poorly during the meeting and rejected accusations that commissioners are “criminals” or stealing from the county. “You’re being fed a lot of long wrong information,” Andrews said. She noted that meetings are recorded and available on the county website for review.
County staff provided a brief reminder that a tentative millage rate and tentative budget public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 5:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room; that is when the board will adopt the tentative millage rate and tentative budget.
The meeting record notes that staff said exemption avenues exist for residents who cannot afford the assessment, but the transcript does not include details on eligibility criteria or the application process. No formal vote on the assessment was recorded in the provided transcript; public comment closed and the meeting adjourned after commissioners’ remarks.
