Lincoln County residents will be paying a little more as a newyear budget anticipates a slight increase in spending and 6.6percent more in property tax revenue.

In a 3-1-1 vote Wednesday, supervisors gave tentative approvalto a $10.8 million budget for the new fiscal year that starts Oct.1. Spending plans represent an increase of $158,659, or 1.49percent, over the current year.

“With times the way they are, I think a 1.49 percent increase isreasonable,” said District 4 Supervisor W.D. “Doug” Moak.

Supervisors Moak, Gary Walker and Bobby J. Watts voted for thebudget while Board President Nolan Earl Williamson voted againstit. District 1’s Vedia Givens abstained, citing the fact that shewill not be serving on the board next year.

Residents in the Lincoln County School District will see a totaltax levy increase of 7.94 mills, meaning they will be paying almost$8 more on every $1,000 of assessed property value. The combinedtax levy is scheduled to go from 84.48 mills this year to 92.42mills next year.

The total increase is a result of the county’s 1.59-millincrease and a 6.35-mill increase for the schools. The largest partof the school increase is needed to service debt on a $3.8 millionbond issue for school improvements approved last September.

While expenditures are $10.8 million, county officials areanticipating revenue of $11.5 million. The revenue increase is$433,867 more than this year, with almost all of that coming fromproperty taxes.

The overall budgeted revenue increase is $2 more than the countyanticipates getting from property tax revenue next year. Accordingto the budget, $6.98 million is slated to come from property taxesnext year, a 6.6 percent increase of $433,865 over this year.

County administrator David Fields said the approximately$700,000 difference between anticipated revenue and expenditureswill go to replenish county cash reserves that have been depletedin recent years. He said the cash flow balance is needed to helpthe county operate in the first four months of a fiscal year untilproperty taxes start coming in.

“We’re down to under $500,000 in the general fund,” said Fields,adding that the county tries to maintain about $900,000 to $1million for early-year operations.

In terms of millage, the county property tax levy is scheduledto go up 1.59 mills to 38.89 mills. That means property owners willbe paying about $1.59 more on every $1,000 of assessed value ofland, homes, automobiles and other items.

Moak said there is no such thing as a “good increase,” but heindicated the 1.59-mill hike was acceptable.

“I think that’s cutting it as good as you can and still try tooperate,” Moak said.

The projected millage increase at Monday’s board meeting was2.11 mills until supervisors rejected additional money for almost30 agencies or funds that receive county appropriations. Combined,the entities had requested increases totaling over $100,000.

The move means Copiah-Lincoln Community College, the publiclibrary, the livestock facility and other agencies will receive thesame funding total next year as this year. Moak said he hated notbeing able to give increases to those organizations.

“But you’ve got to try and hold it as close as you can,” Moaksaid.

Most county budget areas saw no increases or increases of nomore than 3 percent, which was the limit budget writers were tryingto hold to this year.

The jail budget, however, is slated to rise 7 percent to$648,681. Fields said criminal justice efforts, including lawenforcement, jail and the courts, account for approximately 28percent of the overall county budget and about 55 percent of thegeneral fund budget.

Williamson said the jail and law enforcement costs were a sadcommentary on society.

“That’s sad when you have to put 50 cents of every dollar thatcomes across this table toward a criminal,” Williamson said.”What’s this country coming to?”

Other county officials, though, said their “hands are tied” intaking care of inmates due to regulations. Fields said Monday thatmeal and inmate medical costs were rising.

Residents in the Brookhaven School District will only see thetax levy increase for county operations, although they will alsopay city school district taxes. Those who live inside the citylimits will also pay city property taxes.

Supervisors scheduled a public hearing on the budget for Monday,Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. The hearing will coincide with the regular boardmeeting, which was moved due to the Labor Day holiday on Sept.1.

“This is approval subject to the public hearing on the 8th,”said Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop about Wednesday’s budgetaction.