County budget likely will include tax hike
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

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 he will likely 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 on 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.

Clary said he will likely have some preliminary budget figures for county council early next month.

Three readings and a public hearing are needed before the new budget takes effect on July 1.