Commissioner Robert Jones said he expects a tax increase to support the new government structure come January. On July 31st, Pickens County voters will vote for two new commission posts, as well as a board chairman, shifting Pickens County to a three member board. Currently, Pickens County operates under a single or sole commissioner structure. In the wake of the change, the new structure will place more taxes on citizens, Jones suggested at last week’s Popcorn and Politics forum.

“Looks like we’re going to have somewhat of a tax increase to manage that increase in government,”

he said, adding, however, that he did not think it would be a large increase. Jones said, though, the county will have to fund the additional expenses to support those two new positions. Further he explained the two individuals who will occupy the posts will be policy makers only and the chairman will act as a county manager, performing only day-to-day operations.

“It’s going to be interesting for a lot of citizens in the future,”

he mused,

“when they can walk into the office (and) either get an answer in 24 hours or less—might not be the answer they want, but they can get an answer—now it’s going to have to wait to(sic) the board meetings. It could slow down a few things.”

During the forum, Jones also recapped the accomplishments since his election, current issues, and speculated on the future of the county.

He said in the last three years, the county millage rate has remained at 6.26, but cautioned he did not know what next year would bring. He also discussed infrastructure. Since Jones was elected in 2005/6, Pickens County has paved 67.486 miles of road and three bridges. He said he hopes to soon see state funds available, through the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to continue the effort.

“We will probably wind up getting $360,000 to help us pave a few roads in the county,”

he said, mentioning the cost of paving roads in Pickens County is between $70,000 and $80,000 per mile. The road discussion soon turned into discussion of the controversial T-SPLOST (Transportation Special Project Local Option Sales Tax).

The Chamber of Commerce is a staunch supporter of the tax, the commissioner noted. However, Jones said,

“We, in Pickens County, may have a few issues with it.”

He explained that Pickens County is a “donor county,” which means a portion of Pickens share of the T-SPLOST revenue will be “donated” to other counties. He likened the arrangement to school taxes, where four mils (revenue) from Pickens County School taxes are redistributed to counties in South Georgia.

“On a ten year SPLOST, you should collect $60 million,”

he explained. However, with the projects the county has selected, Jones said he expects to receive only $48 million. Out of the six projects selected, the county was only approved of three. One, he said, is the widening of highway 53, a project tabled by GDOT since 1988.

“Now they’re talking about using our TIA (Transportation Investment Act) money to build this (the widening of 53), instead of going back to the money that was originally tabled about in 1988—that’s another issue I’ve got with it.”

When asked what the future holds for Pickens County, Commissioner Jones simply said infrastructure, with a focus on expanding water connections through the county.