By LARRY HILLIARDLedger Staff Writer

Count Quay Little among the Cherokee County council members who won’t support a proposed 6.3 mill tax hike.

Little said he plans to introduce a proposal dubbed the “Republican Plan” that will bridge the budget shortfall without raising taxes.

His plan, in part, calls for cutting health costs, collecting revenue from the re-evaluation of agricultural property and dipping into the county’s reserve fund. He also supports a 1-cent local option sales tax to fund capital expenditures.

“The proposal is to take money from the reserve as they did last year and to cut government to take the fat out,” he said.

Fellow Republican councilman Bailey Humphries said last week he also supports making up the budget deficit with the fund balance and expected revenue the county will receive later this year from underpaid franchise fees from Charter Communication and the right-of-way acquisition for the Hwy. 105 project.

At its most recent meeting, council settled on a 6.3 mill tax hike after agreeing to buy six new sheriff’s department cruisers, give employees a 2 percent cost-of-living raise and increase its millage levy from 3.7 mills to 4 mills to operate the library.

The 25-cent property tax increase per $100 of assessed value would increase county taxes on a $100,000 house from $297.60 to $322.80, according to the county auditor’s office.

Cherokee County Interim Administrator Ben Clary is expected to present a first draft of the proposed $16.2 million budget at today’s 5 p.m. meeting.

The new budget takes effect July 1.