The Polk County Board of Commissioners has set a public hearing on the proposed millage rate at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11.

The hearing will be held in the meeting room at the State Patrol Building, 29 Hugh Hardison Drive, Cedartown.

Polk Commissioners Marshelle Thaxton, Jason Ward and Phillip Bentley have voiced opinions about the proposed increase in the millage rate.

The county board previously announced its intention to increase the property taxes levied this year by 3.05 percentage over the rollback rate.

The proposed increase would result in a millage rate of 10.850, an increase of .321 mills. Without this increase, the millage rate would be no more than 10.529 mills.

The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $100,000 is about $12.84. The proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $75,000 is about $9.63.

Thaxton said there has been no increase in the millage rate over the past 6 years, excluding 2008 when it was lowered.

“We have operated on this rate for the past 3 years with decreased revenues,” he said. “We cut the budget and delayed some projects. However, we have maintained services and no employee of Polk County has been furloughed.

“There is so much uncertainty about taxes, I would rather leave the millage rate the same than increase it one-half or 1 mill in 2013.”

Ward said he believes the residents of Polk need help due to the economy. “We need to find middle ground,” he said.

Bentley agreed with their sentiments, but reminded that less revenue could mean a cut elsewhere.

These observations were made during a public hearing on Thursday morning, October 4, where several citizens asked questions and gave comments.

Most were seeking clarification of advertised numbers and what they could really expect from the county board.

Among those who came to get questions answered were Vern Miller, Wayne Atkins, Andrew Dulaney, John Ragland and Thomas James.