Commissioners to hold final public hearing on proposed budget for 2013

Catoosa County commissioners will hold a third — and final — hearing Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 9 a.m. to give the public a chance to comment on the proposed county budget and property tax rate for fiscal 2013.

Commissioner are expected to approve the budget and rate following the hearing.

Figures presented in two earlier hearings predicted a 5.99 percent tax rate increase and a general fund showing a $799,000 deficit.

Although the increase may seem minimal — about three-tenths of 1 percent on next year’s tax bills — legislation requires the county to hold three public hearings if the property tax (or millage) rate increases.

Sandra Self, Catoosa County tax commissioner, said the numbers may seem a little dreary at first glance, but that’s “really not the case at all.”

“Bottom line,” Self said, “when all the calculations are in, when the budgets are set and the taxes are levied, most property owners will actually see a slight decrease in property taxes. We can thank people for buying locally.”

Self said after the tornado in April 2011, there was a great deal of fear and speculation by officials, as well as the public regarding the long-term financial effects of the disaster. Many businesses and homes were lost and the lack of that tax income weighed heavily on projections for the county, according to Self.

“Last year at this time, everybody was singing the blues because of the tornado,” Self said, “but they were missing the