Budget committee proposes Hardin County property owners pay $1.4 million in new taxes

June 1– The Hardin County Budget Committee is recommending a 15 percent increase in the county property tax rate that would generate more than $1.4 million annually.

The proposed hike sets the property tax rate at $1.92, up 25 cents from the current $1.67 and among the very lowest in the state.

The budget committee, made up of half the members of the Hardin County Commission, wants to allocate 8 cents of the 25 cent total increase to schools, 10 cents to the general fund, 6 cents to the highway department and 1 cent to debt service.

The county has $2.9 million in undesignated reserves and $1.4 million set aside to meet debt obligations already incurred.

The budget committee is not seeking to use any of the reserves to fund the new budget for the fiscal year which starts July 1.

"It sounds like we have a big kitty there, but we really don’t," said Hardin County Mayor Kevin Davis  of the $4.3 million in total reserves.

A residence appraised at $75,000 would incur an additional $46.88 in property tax, for a total of $360.

Other than providing $270,000 in new funds to implement an animal control program to accompany the existing free canine spay-neuter program, and $60,000 for as yet undecided "community enhancements" in the more rural or remote areas of the county, most of the increase is needed to cover rising costs of existing services, according to officials.

The Hardin County Commission meets Monday at 6:30 p.m. in a planning session to discuss the proposed property tax rate and budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

A formal vote is expected at the commission’s business meeting set for June 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Both meetings take place at the county courthouse on Main Street in Savannah and are open to the public.