By LARRY HILLIARDLedger Staff Writerlarry@gaffneyledger.com

JAMES BATCHLER Tax bills for Cherokee County property owners will be going up this year.

Cherokee County Council passed final reading Monday of its $17.1 million budget that hikes tax bills from 58 mills to 63 mills, an increase of 8.6 percent.

The 20-cent property tax increase per $1,000 of assessed value would increase county taxes on a $100,000 house from $297.60 to $317, according to the county auditor’s office.

The budget also funds a 2 percent cost-of-living raise for all employees but does not include a .3 mill increase sought by the county library.

Council members Quay Little, Tim Spencer and Bailey Humphries opposed the tax hike. They also voted against the budget on first and second reading.

CHARLES MATHIS The new spending plan goes into effect July 1. Who voted for it... ...and who voted against it

HOKE PARRIS RUFUS FOSTER QUAY LITTLE BAILEY HUMPHRIES TIM SPENCER