Pierce County residents urge cuts as public hearing on proposed millage draws criticism

Pierce County residents packed a Nov. 6 public hearing to oppose a proposed millage and tax increase, urging the Board of Commissioners to tighten department budgets, reduce insurance and training costs and prioritize seniors over new recreation spending.

At the opening, Chairman Neal Bennett said speakers would have three to four minutes each. Dozens of residents took that opportunity to press the board on what many described as unexpected assessment- and tax-related increases. "Where are you drawing the line?" asked Derek Tippins, a College Avenue resident, reflecting a common refrain that property taxes had risen sharply for some homeowners.

Several speakers questioned specific budget lines and suggested alternatives. Ann Williams, a fifth-generation Pierce County resident, urged the board to close the Annex building, which she said was intended to be temporary, to reduce expenses. Lester Sirmons argued that the digest sets property assessments and that the county should use Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) proceeds properly to help hold down taxes. Bruce Thomas summarized his stance bluntly: "Taxes are theft."

Timothy Murray criticized the absence of two commissioners at the hearing and urged the county to carry forward any year-end surplus toward next year’s budget rather than spend it. Murray also questioned training and insurance line items and said department heads should be held accountable. County Manager Raphel Maddox responded that many positions require state-mandated training and that without it the county risks losing certified employees; he also said the county was seeking a new insurance carrier.

Maddox disputed an attribution reported in the local press that the proposed millage would fund a new recreation department, saying, "No, we will use grants and SPLOST funds to build the new recreation department." Earlier press reports cited Maddox as saying it would take "4 mills" to balance the budget; that figure was raised during public comment as context for residents' concerns about increases in property tax bills.

Several residents urged the board to renegotiate employee health benefits or require more cost-sharing by employees. Michael Bennett called on commissioners to negotiate health benefits; Lisa Dickerson asked whether insurance was truly the core driver of the budget shortfall. Others pressed for cross-training to reduce payroll costs and for formal contracts to improve accountability.

The hearing also featured repeated appeals to protect vulnerable residents. Kristi Joyner and Kristi Strickland described seniors and people in need of food, saying a tax increase would make it harder for those already struggling. Karen Herndon acknowledged the value of recreation for youth but stressed that seniors also require support.

Commissioner Troy Mattox moved to adjourn the public hearing at 8:10 p.m.; Commissioner David Lowman seconded and the motion carried.

The commissioners did not take a formal vote on a millage rate during the hearing; the session served as the public comment portion of the budget process. Officials present indicated they were exploring insurance carriers and intended to rely on grant and SPLOST funding for the recreation project rather than the proposed tax increase.