No one showed up at Monday’s final public hearing for the Bryan County Commissioner’s proposed property tax increase.

Following Chairman Jimmy Burnsed’s opening and immediate closing of the public hearing, county commissioners Rick Gardner, Ed Bacon, and Glen Willard voted on the proposed tax increase. The vote passed unanimously. Blondean Newman and Toby Roberts weren’t at the hearing.

Rick Gardner read the motion, which has increased the county millage rate to 6.911 for the 2008 fiscal year, up from 6.473 mills last year.

“I think we’ve worked hard, and I think we’ve done a good job,” Gardner said.

Other millage rates include 13.572 mills for public education, going toward school maintenance and operation, and the state’s .25 mill.
The 2008 total tax levy in unincorporated areas of Bryan County will be 20.733 mills.

One mill is the equivalent of one dollar for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Assessed value is equal to 40 percent of a property’s appraised value. The new millage rates will officially begin on Jan. 1, 2008.