McDuffie County Commissioners met last Wednesday and adopted new millage rates for the county, as well as confirming a recent millage rate adopted by the McDuffie County Board of Education.
The new millage rate in the incorporated areas of the county will be set at 8.5 mills, while a mill rate of 7.8 was adopted for the unincorporated areas.
McDuffie County Manager Don Norton said many property owners in the county will see a rise in taxes because of reassessments this year. The same is planned next year, according to McDuffie County Chief Tax Assessor Katherine Perry.
Prior to the commission meeting, a third hearing was held to gather comments from the public.
Harold Eubank, owner of The Eubank Company Inc., a timber business in Dearing, told commissioners he feels a tax burden being shifted towards that part of the county.
"It's getting more and more disproportioned," Mr. Eubank said, noting his tax bills have risen significantly in recent years. "The system is not working when it comes to timberland."
Mr. Eubank pointed out that he was not attending the meeting to complain or point fingers at anybody or accuse anyone of doing anything wrong, but merely there to inform commissioners of what has been taking place for a number of years.
He alluded to the same type practices taking place across the state in the timber industry.
Mr. Eubank said the timber industry can't continue the trend, such as the one that currently exists across the state.
"I wish it weren't that way," Commissioner Darrell Wester told Mr. Eubank.
Mr. Norton agreed.
"It is not a perfect system," he said. "I think the comments (of Mr. Eubank) are well needed."
