Rescind tax hike petition presented

Group makes stand at Courthouse on millage

Local residents gathered at the Walton County Historic Courthouse Tuesday morning to present the petition pushing for a new millage rate.

Walton In Action, the volunteer group which popped up following the recent millage rate hike, gathered thousands of signatures in the past week on a petition urging the Walton County Board of Commissioners to rescind the recently passed millage rate, which went up 19.55%.

On Tuesday, the group stood on the front steps of the courthouse to formally present the petition, the latest salvo in the grassroots fight against what organizers called “the Commission’s tax grab.”

The Board of Commissioners passed the millage rate increase in a contested 4-3 vote on Aug. 5, and public outcry was loud and swift as soon as the meeting was over. Social media has been filled with angry comments, calling for Chairman David Thompson’s recall, decrying county spending and much, much more.

“Through email and public meetings, Chairman Thompson has chosen to insult the voters by telling us to ‘stop whining’ and get educated,” Walton in Action announced in its press release before Tuesday’s event. “We are educated and we see the issue as less on tax increases and more with how and why our dollars are used.

The issue before Walton County citizens is not whether their taxes will increase, but that the significant millage increase will have lingering effects due to poor strategic planning, fiscal irresponsibility and tax and spending actions.”

Look for more coverage of Tuesday’s event in the weekend edition of The Walton Tribune as the county tax deadline of Sept. 1 draws ever closer.