Columbia County approves tax rate

Gee, more taxes for the fire Department. I guess I knew it was coming, how about the rest of columbia county? We are already using the extra one cent tax to pay for the Fire Dept and Pam wants more on the one cent tax to pay for more of it. I wonder why the new station in Harlem will a quarter of a million less then the other stations? Why are we not using the monthly phone charge collected by Clay and his boys for communications to upgrade the fire Dept? If Clay had to do ALL of the dispatching then what would the Fire Department do with all the radio gear they already own? Why do we keep paying twice???

Maybe some money could be saved by hiring a different company for paving our roads. Whoever is doing it now takes too long and makes too many mistakes, necessitating that the work be re-done. Other than that minor gripe, I'm happy living in Columbia County and can live with this small increase.

Gee, thanks CC for the tax increase. Sure would be nice if you'd use those taxes in areas of the county that really need it instead of those areas where your political buddies live. As for the taxes going to help pay for fire fighting raises and other expenses - I thought it was curious the signs saying 'SPLOST money at work' suddenly came down. Sandbox has it right - CC is bending us over and taking what they want any way they can. Standing - maybe we can live with this small increase, but they're going to continue taking more and more. My property taxes have literally doubled in the past two years while my home value has decreased, so what's another 5-6 bucks on the bill, right?

How can they say they are only adding an additional $1.70 to the bill when they add at least $10,000 a year to the assessed value each year! To top it off, the road I live on that was supposed to be paved already hasn't been repaved in about 20 years, we don't have street lights, or water lines run down our neighborhood road. But boy, put that park in why don't ya! Or even better, pay to have a golf clubhouse for those elite players. I want a racetrack to attrack NASCAR fans! Give me a break!

I’m not sure if most of these comments are made out of anger of new taxes or just plain ignorance. Everyone so far is complaining about their taxes going up, well here is the bottom line: If you do not like it then move to another county, or stop complaining. Our county is increasing taxes to provide US, the resident, with the protection and services we need. If you do not like these services then go somewhere that has lower taxes and provides a service that is equal to the funds they receive. Does the saying "you get what you pay for" mean anything? The more money that the county puts into the Fire Department and the Sheriffs Department the better the service we will receive. So before you login to the Augusta Chronicle each morning to make uneducated statements which removes all doubt of your ignorance, (Sandbox) think about what you say and be thankful you live in a county that can provide the superior Fire and Police protection that it does EVERYDAY.

AR396 - if the tax increases actually provided something tangible like infrastructure or promised necessary improvements I'm sure none of us would complain. However, the commission seems to think that it's more important to put the cart before the horse in many cases. So yes, I believe those of us complaining about the tax increases have every right to do so. There was a time when the county commission actually improved county living conditions before thinking about improving county fun, and it's high time our current commission stops and thinks about that.

These increases are providing improvements in the form of equipment and personnel to the county Emergency agencies. I understand why people are concerned about the increase but overall it is a small increase. In the big picture I believe they are trying to do a good thing and yes sometimes they need a little guidance and that is where our roles as citizens of the community come in. Remember, do not always look at the immediate effect or just how this affects you individually but how this effects us as a community and the future effects and benefits from the situation.