Property tax collections decline
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Property tax collections for the county are short approximately $718,858. Chairman James Henry delivered the disturbing news during the Tuesday, Feb. 19, meeting of the Jenkins County Commissioners.

"This is not looking good," Henry said.

It was reported that $1,319,000 in property taxes had been collected as of Feb. 14. The deadline for paying property taxes was Feb. 8.

Attention was also called to the fact that sales tax revenues for the State of Georgia were down 7 percent.

'If we lose 7 percent of our sales tax, we are going to be in trouble," Henry said.

Other areas of the county budget, however, were not so dismal. Ambulance service collections were reported at $223,000 with only $200,000 having been budgeted. It was noted that the increase was due to the collection of delinquent bills. Also, collection of State Court fines and motor vehicle taxes were reported to be on schedule.

A recent offer to move Jenkins County from the Central Savannah River Area (C.S.R.A.) Rural Development Center (RDC) district was rejected by the commissioners. Henry told the group that the Department of Community Affairs had recommended that the county be reassigned to the Heart of Georgia RDC, headquartered in Eastman. After reconsideration, the agency then decided to leave the county in the C.S.R.A. district, headquartered in Augusta.

The commissioners approved 4-1 a resolution acknowledging their preference for remaining in the C.S.R.A. district, stating that they felt the county had more in common with the counties in this district than those in the Heart of Georgia district.

Commissioner Domingo Green cast the opposing vote. Green has previously complained about the service the county received from the C.S.R.A. district.

Chairman Henry reported that he and Commissioner Pamelia Dwight had met with the Department of Transportation Com- missioner to request additional funds for county road resurfacing. They were told that Sid Newton Road was approved for the LARP program and would be paved at no charge to the county. It was also noted that Oak Hill Church Road was approved for completion of paving in 2008 under the LARP program.

Several county employees met with the commissioners seeking clarification of proposed revisions to the county's Personnel Policy concerning employee leave. The employees expressed concern over the reduction of three days in leave time in the new proposal.

The commissioners responded that the fewer days was offset by the fact that employees would be able to use the allowed leave time as they desired and could accumulate up to 45 days leave. Previously unused leave was lost at the end of the year, and employees had to declare what type of leave they were taking.

The commissioners agreed to consider the matter and to supply a copy of the proposed changes to the employees prior to approval. The first reading of the proposed changes was held. Two additional readings are necessary for the changes to become effective.