AMERICUS —

The Sumter County Board of Commissioners, at their meeting Tuesday, adopted the 2008 millage rates.

They released this statement: “It is hereby resolved by the Board of Commissioners of Sumter County that the millage rate for 2008 be set at: 12.185 mils in the unincorporated areas of Sumter County; 12.185 mils in the incorporated cities of Andersonville, DeSoto, Leslie and Plains of Sumter County; 11.817 mils in the incorporated area — City of Americus district of Sumter County.”

The Commissioners also adopted a budget of $18,261,275. This figure represents a $356,386-decrease to tax payers opposed to the budget that was presented to the Commissioners several weeks ago.

This particular meeting started at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and Andrea Brooks was the Commissioner to make the motion that the $18.2 budget be adopted.

Neither of her fellow Commissioners had seconded her motion after about four minutes so Brooks withdrew her motion. Commission Chairman Bill Bowen said the Commission had evaluated this budget enough over the last several weeks and it was time for the Commission to step up to the plate and make a decision.

“I have my pajamas, moonpies and RC Colas, so I am prepared to stay here all night if we need to,” Bowen said to his fellow Commissioners in the courtroom.

Brooks kept looking to her fellow Commissioners who are on the finance committee of the Commission, Al Hurley and Brent Williams, for input or advice, but Williams said the issue was out of the finance committee’s hands and now it was in front of the full board.

It was about 6:30 p.m. when Williams made this statement, and Brooks asked Bowen was it okay for the Commission to take about a five-minute break from the proceedings.

The break ended up lasting about 10 minutes. Brooks made the motion again that the budget be adopted after the Commission reconvene. Commissioner Randy Howard second the motion this time, but only after he made a statement to the audience.

He said he would only approve the budget if the Administrator’s Office and various department heads monitored their expenditures the County would freeze hiring new employees. The other Commissioners echoed Howard’s sentiments.

On a personal level, none of the Commissioners said they enjoy a tax increase.