County will likely see another tax increase

Cherokee County taxpayers should brace themselves for another tax increase in the proposed county budget.

Last year, Cherokee County Council approved a 2.29-mill increase for county operations and a 1.8-mill increase to cover the county's debt service. Those increases added $16 a year in taxes on a home valued at $100,000.

Cherokee County Interim Administrator Ben Clary said Friday he will propose a similar tax increase for county operations this time around.

"I see where a tax increase would be a benefit to cover the needs of the departments," he said. "In order to meet all the needs, I might recommend a small tax increase."

Clary said he is awaiting word how much the countywide reassessment will generate in revenue.

By law, taxing bodies can't realize a revenue windfall as a result of reassessment.

They must roll back their tax rates, if necessary, to stay under the cap that limits tax increases to the consumer price index and the county's population growth numbers.

Clary said he doubts he will have some preliminary budget figures for county council to consider at today's meeting.

Three readings and a public hearing are required before the new budget goes into effect on July 1.