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Residents press commissioners for clearer tax messaging and suggest alternatives for veterans memorial funds
Summary
During public comment at the May 26 meeting, residents criticized a commissioner's social media post about property tax increases and urged the county to give clearer context; other speakers praised the veterans memorial but proposed using funds for veteran services and transportation instead.
Several Lincoln County residents used the public-comment period on May 26 to press the Board of Commissioners for clearer communication about property taxes and to offer alternatives for memorial funds.
Tom Johnson, a Lincoln County resident, said a county commissioner's Facebook post showing a 55.85% property-tax increase compared with a 16.7% income change was inaccurate and risked misinforming voters. "I don't believe that that content or context is accurate nor is it appropriate...to hype up property taxes during a voting cycle only to create hyper negativity," Johnson said, urging the board to separate county-controlled tax decisions from valuation-driven increases and to provide full context when discussing tax changes.
Freddie Will, a retired Marine, spoke in favor of the veterans memorial but suggested alternative or complementary uses for funds to help living veterans, including rural transportation to medical care, behavioral-health sponsorships with local providers and mentorship programs. "While I think the memorial is fantastic... I think a memorial spends could be spent on veterans that reside in your county that are still alive," he said.
Linda Montgomery, a resident who also attended Memorial Day events, asked that presentation charts be included or linked in the published agenda packet so members of the public can view them when staff present data; county staff said the budget book and agenda materials would be posted on the county website under finances.
No formal action was taken on the suggestions; commissioners acknowledged the comments and commissioners requested staff follow up on posting materials and providing additional clarity on tax information.
