The Bryan County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to raise the millage rate by 1.25 mills while also adding $25 to the monthly fire fee. 

Commissioners Wade Price and Jimmy Henderson voted against the increase, which was approved at the board's Tuesday evening meeting.

The county initally proposed a millage rate increase of 1.5 mills and no increase to the county's current $120 yearly fire fee. They called Tuesday's vote difficult but noted it helped spread the cost of covering a projected $1.6 million shortfall. The county's 2014 budget is $19.7 million. 

Read more about the budget and the final public hearing leading up to the vote in the Aug. 14 Bryan County News. Read more on the increase in the Aug. 17 Bryan County News.