PERRY — Perry residents will have to pay more when their tax bills come next year. City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to raise the city millage rate by .8 of a mill to 13.81.
“This was not something that was done without thought or proper discussion,” said Mayor Jimmy Faircloth. “It has to be done. The city of Perry’s budget is” in the red.
City leaders have been grappling with a revenue shortage for the past six months, Faircloth said.
Last year, the city had to use its reserves to cover a $900,000 shortage. This year, the city faced a $500,000 shortfall in tax collection. The tax raise should put the city in the black and establish a more than $100,000 reserve, Faircloth said.
“This will help us build up that reserve we will need again,” the mayor said.
The move did not sit well with about 60 or so residents from the Houston Springs subdivision.
Bob Hubbard admitted the tax increase was coming and “there’s nothing we can do about that, but I beg council members to drill down into how this city operates and find ways to be more efficient.”
Hubbard pointed out city tennis courts that were lit at night, and sending paper bills to people who pay utility bills online and through bank drafts was wasteful spending.
To contact writer Shelby G. Spires, call 744-4494.
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