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2A ♦ THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2006 ifcrT Journal Ray Lightner County commissioners, from left, Tom McMichael and Larry Thomson, voted to raise taxes, Tuesday, after Chairman Ned Sanders, center, called for the question. Commissioner Jay Walker, right, voted against the increase. TAXES From page iA and not present at the called meeting. In a written state ment, however, she said she voted for the action, saying “the slight increase is justi fied.” Walker said, “I wish we didn’t have to increase taxes. I wish the budget was lower, I hoped it had bal anced out.” Walker, who is running for re-election, noted he has voted against the previous increases as well. “I think you can adjust the budget,” he said. Thomson noted: “We have a good, tight budget.” McMichael added: “It was a reduction of half a mill. We have a budget and we have to fund it.” With the vote the county lowered the tax levy or mill -age, down half a mill from last year’s 9.82 to 9.32 mills, but with reassessments that rate brings in more revenue than the revenue neutral rollback rate of 9.11 mills. The rollback rate is the tax rate the county needs to bring in the same amount of money as it did last year if the reassessments did not occur. And if set to the roll back rate, no public hearings would be required, because based on the wording of the state legislation, the so-called “taxpayers bill of rights,” there would not be a tax increase. Commission Chairman Ned Sanders explained the legislation required the pub lic notices because of the increase in valuation of property leaving the millage rate the same would be a back door tax increase. Sanders noted the county portion is only 41.7 percent of the total tax bill. The school system gets the rest of it, except for a quarter of a mill for the state to oper STATE From page iA writing section, the BOE release read. A perfect score on the new SAT is 2,400 ver sus the 1,600 of past years for math and verbal. “We are elated with our students’ scores,” said Superintendent of Schools Danny Carpenter. “Our counselors, teachers and principals put forth a tre mendous effort. Our strat egy focused on preparedness and it worked. “Houston County High students improved their scores by 30 points over last year and beat the national average by 15 points. Perry High’s scores improved 41 points over last year, while Northside High main tained its scores after its 33-point jump in 2005. And Warner Robins High’s aver age increased by 20 points, 33 points above the state average. Systemwide, our students in, the top 10 per cent outscored the national average of their peers by 28 points. I commend all of our high schools on their accom plishments.” Counselors use a SAT/ ACT Checklist for students who aspire to take the SAT or ACT. Students and their parents are advised to track progress with certain bench marks to determine their readiness to test: PSAT score (both verbal and math scores); ■ Current GPA (based on ate and administer tax laws. The Houston County Board of Education set its part of the tax rate at 12.50 mills, down .98 mills from last year, but also an increase with the reassessments. Based on a $150,000 house, minus the $2,000 homestead exemption and the SB,OOO state tax credit, the county portion of the tax bill at the rollback rate of 9.11 mills would be $455.50 for city residents and $515 for those in unincorporated areas because of the fire tax. At the proposed 9.32 mills, it would cost city residents $466 and $525.50 for those in incorporated areas. “It’s about 96 cents a month more,” Sanders said. Sanders also noted with reassessments the $150,000 house this year was a $135,000 or $140,000 last year. The fire tax rate is 1.19 mills this year, down from 1.3 mills last year. It is to pay for fire service in the unincorporated areas of the county. City residents pay city taxes for fire service and the cities each set their own additional millages. Three of the past six years Houston’s millage rate has been the below it’s seven adjacent counties. “Bleckley was the lowest, just mar ginally” those other three years, Sanders said. “Five of those seven are 25 to 50 percent higher than Houston County,” Sanders said. The millage or tax levy rate is based several fac tors outside of the control of the county commissioners including property values and the cost of operating the county such as insurance, fuel, labor and equipment co’sts. “The bottom line, ” Sanders said, “cost is going up. We’re all victims of a market econ omy.” college prep or tech prep courses only); ■ Math course(s) beyond Algebra II; ■ At least one semes ter of llth-grade College Preparatory English (two semesters if grade is below 85); and ■ Advanced Placement courses. The Houston County School System works to increase students’ postsec ondary success by: ■ increasing communica tion with students, teachers and parents regarding the different admission opportu nities for higher education; ■ providing access to SAT Online - an online study guide to help high school students prepare for the exam; ■ increased rigor of both vocational and college prep courses; and SUGARLOAF A Lovely Sidewalk Community In Perry These Homes are quality built all brick homes We have 3 & 4 bedroom homes starting at 131,900. Homes have features such as custom cabinets, fireplace, sod, sprinkler system. Builder is giving a $5,000 bonus if you contract on one of our last 2 completed homes and close within 30 days. We have a new loan program available to use that is a 100% loan with no PMI. Information Center open daily Mon, Thur, Fri 12-6 weekdays, Sat 11-5 Sun 1-5 Stop by and visit with Karen or give her a call at 954-HOME (4663) Located on the Perry Parkway right across from the new Court House. Coming Soon Another CARTER-WILKES S/D REMINGTON CHASE CONSTRUCTION, INC. pairclothj^ealty. £? (4711971-2115 331 Margie Drive, Warner Robins, 64.31011 Disclaimer Bonuses based on certain completed homes only Loan program based upon credit and may not apply to all purchasers The tax digest is set by the duly elected Tax Commissioner, based on property assessments by the Tax Assessor’s Office. The aggregate net value real property in Houston County is about $3.1 billion. County Director of Administration Steve Engle noted the tax digest increased about $230 mil lion in existing real property value. Thomson noted Bill Gates is worth about 14 times all the property in the county. The portion of the county budget funded by property taxes, about $27.9 million goes to provide for general government, public safe ty, public works, libraries, health and welfare, conser vation of natural resources, state and federally man dated services and intergov ernmental operations like the Regional Development Center, the Houston County Development Authority, Perry-Houston County Airport Authority and the 21st Century Partnership. Sanders noted that an insurance premium tax in the amount of about $2.1 million is being used for ser vices only in the unincor porated areas such as solid waste collections, animal control, recreation storm drainage improvements and mosquito control in lieu of a higher millage in the unin corporated areas. Walton Wood was the only citizen to speak at the third public hearing, prior to the vote. He asked candidate Walker about his support of the property tax freeze. Walker said his support was especially for those 65 and over. “I suggest you get the property tax freeze under way.” Wood said, especially since his own assessment was up more than $20,000 for a double wide. ■ creation and implemen tation of an individualized student SAT/ACT checklist to help students and parents determine preparedness to achieve academic goals. The 2006 SAT aver age scores are provided for the system, state and each school. Results for the top 10 percent of students are also provided for the system, state and each school. Great Deals Free AD for items under SSO Call 987-1823 for details HI I LOCAL Hurricane survivor finds new home at FVSU, county Special to the Journal For Dawn Raymond and her family, Hurricane Katrina was more than just a series of news stories on television and in the news papers. They lived through the nightmare. Raymond and Terrell, her Air Force hus band, lived in Gulf Port, Miss., with their children Regina, 9, Erik, 8 and Destini, 6. Dawn Raymond was also a student at the University of Southern Mississippi. When Hurricane Katrina hit a year ago, the Raymond family’s world was turned upside down. Six feet of water flooded their home destroying the entire first floor. Their vehicle was also destroyed. “When you have chil dren you run on auto matic,” Raymond said. “That’s all I did.” From Aug. 28 until Sept. 1, 2005, Raymond and her family stayed in emergency jL IBHyi 9 1 :S.. , J mi j \ if Submitted Psychology major Dawn Raymond, pictured with hus band Terrell and three children, from left, Destini, Regina and Erik, are all smiles in one of the few items ' rescued from Hurricane Katrina’s destruction. CALL From page iA was just a part of the department’s annual fund raising for MDA, which also includes boot drives, a golf tournament and the gospel sing last Sunday. The firefighters have been out with boots in e^M. W xjjgrttgy «i t JsllL g-x WWM WrL j BmSStk IjL M ||| gBP 1 \ ■Rigigp ( |££. ™ »?We > Go Karts, \Scooters & * JDirt Bikes Electric Guitar $ 59 00 Acoustic Guitar Adult $ 39 88 child $ 24 88 Banjos $ 42 73 Shampoo- Lotion *if slo o Household Cleaners Cell phone accessories: Cases, Auto & Home Chargers and much, much more @ $1- each. Kitchenware, Clothes, Cleaning Supplies. TONS OF ITEMS! 79 Green St. - Warner Robins, GA Q22-ftoo2 (One Block From Hwy. 247) VJW*- HOURS: 10am ■ spm Mon-Sat 00036365 shelters at Robins Air Force Base until they decided to settle down in Bonaire. In addition to trying to rebuild family life, Raymond was also determined to con tinue her education. She called other colleges and universities in Middle Georgia, but Fort Valley State University was the one eager to help. “FVSU sent information and followed up with me,” Raymond said. “Mr. Wallace Keese was instrumental in my getting here. He and Vicky Taylor worked hard with me in trying to get all of my information from USM. When I wanted to give up and say, ‘Forget it,’ they would not let me. I felt like FVSU was not just interested in me and my education, but Mr. Keese truly cared.” While helping Raymond return to her education al goals, she recalls that Keese also asked what the university family could do hand at the two Warner Robins Wal-Marts the past two weekends. They’ll be out again this weekend, too. The proceeds from the sale and all the other fundraisers will be given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association during the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon on WMAZ 13 (CBS). |EAG VVanlehy plm o Ztye*ict<%u<&iten4, lTwimSet - $ 99 00 Queen iS.et - s ls9°° iKingtS.et - $ 229 00 HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL to assist her and her family. “Now I tiy not to take thingß seriously because things will come and go, but life changes in a split second,” Raymond said. “We weath ered hurricanes Dennis and Ivan. Nothing compares to this. I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I never thought I wouldn’t come back home. Never.” Now Raymond is a junior at FVSU pursuing a degree in psychology. Famous Homemade Cinnamon Rolls i-7» fan ip. Mi-mrr HEARING TEST SET FOR SENIOR CITIZENS Free hearing test will be given at the Beltone Hearing Aid Office in Macon, Monday, Tues day, Thursday, an Friday, 9am-spm, located 686 First Street. Our Board Certi fied Hearing Instrument Specialist, Reinhard Unger,has over 30 years experience in the hearing health care field. Test results will reveal if medical treatment or hearing aids will help. Yearly testing is recom mended, especially for those with hearing dif ficulty. Current hearing aid users and those who have been told previously nothing could be done for them should be tested to determine if new technol ogy would benefit them. Call today to make your appointment. 478-743-1452 wr?d%-m “DUcauttt £oi * y Setuand & 6 Amplifier 4 fc *88 95 d 00037506 100036487