Tax mill hike in place of road tax

Oconee County councilmen acceded to the views of their budget committee chairman to kill the idea of the county’s first road maintenance fee. But, to square revenues with expenses next year, the council instead will move toward a general three mill tax increase. The fee had been the idea of County Administrator Moulder as a way to restore some semblance of a county road-paving program. But, in last night’s budget workshop, the council— to a man—regarded a $15 annual fee on all registered motor vehicles a greater hardship on county residents than a three mill increase. Budget Chairman Dexter, Council Chairman Thrift, and District Two’s McCall all indicated they were influenced by feedback from the public. And McCall termed the idea of a $15 fee “dead” in his district.