News 12 at 6 o’clock, July 21, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---A recent audit puts the city at a $5.1 million surplus, and there is talk of raising property taxes. "Which is a joke for us because we're steady paying taxes, and we're not getting any services," said Diane Moss.

She is one of dozens gathering for the first of 3 public hearings. Not one commissioner was on hand.

"It was already decided this was just something for us," said Moss. Diane and others like her spoke out against a .607 millage rate increase. "All citizens should vote on taxes. We vote on everything else. We should vote whether they should go up."

The latest hike amounts to about $24 per year on a $100,000 home. The money will cover day to day expenses including jail overcrowding...too many inmates...and too few beds.

"Oh we got to have more money...we ain't got no police department we ain't got this," said Herman Beasley.

Harman Beasley says he's heard it all before..."If they would get up off their, whatever you wanna call it, I'll leave that blank and get out there on Bobby Jones...they could support the whole police department," said Beasley.

Beasley was one of the few people in the audience who was able to maintain his sense of humor while facing a tough reality...

"That fire truck or whatever that was that went behind us… it takes money to run those things and somebody at the end of that is expecting somebody to show up. They need help, and that's why you pay taxes," said city administrator Fred Russell.

The city budgeted $2.98 a gallon for gas this year. Russell says it's time to set aside money for a rainy day. They have until July 28,2008 to finalize the millage rate.