Supervisors OK tax increase, new budget

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Sept. 16, 2004
Lauderdale County supervisors on Wednesday approved a $41.9 million budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 including a property tax increase of 6.9 percent.
The vote came one day after about 70 people attended a public hearing Tuesday during which several residents said they couldn't afford to pay more taxes because they live on fixed incomes.
But supervisors nevertheless approved the budget and tax increase 4-1, with District 5 Supervisor Ray Boswell casting the sole no vote. Boswell tried unsuccessfully to persuade supervisors to cut $900,000 in the budget.
Boswell's proposed cuts included $350,000 from county department budgets, $200,000 from the county's ending cash balance and $200,000 from a certificate of deposit for the Lauderdale County Agri-Center.
Heated exchange
Boswell asked supervisors to make the additional cuts and consider reducing the tax increase.
Boswell's comments angered some supervisors.
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt said he also is representing his constituents. Hitt questioned why Boswell's suggestions hadn't been made earlier during the budget-writing process.
Boswell's comments
After supervisors approved the budget 4-1, Boswell told District 4 Supervisor Joe Norwood, who also serves as president of the board of supervisors: "You can be as arrogant as you want to Joe."
Boswell's comments were similar to those of some residents who spoke to supervisors Tuesday night at the public hearing on the budget and tax increase.
Norwood shot back that he didn't believe he is arrogant.