EASTMAN, Ga. — Eastman just raised millage taxes by 2.5%.
City officials said they needed to use this money for more positions in the police department and fire department.
“I’m also a tax payer and I own a house in the city and nobody wants to pay more taxes," Eastman police chief Billy Cooper said. "But as far as my department we're just trying to get back where we used to be."
Cooper says he has seen the need for more officers in his department and in the fire department.
He says that's why the city is raising taxes by 2.05 mills.
The extra money will add three jobs to his department and three to the fire department.
Though Cooper says that's still not enough to deal with all the calls they get.
“In 2000, we answered 369 calls in the month of January and we had more officers than we have today," Cooper said. "In January of this year, we answered 772 calls."
Cooper says they only have 11 officers right now.
Graham Snyder is the chairman of the Eastman City Council. He says the city relies on these departments to keep them safe.
“We feel there is a direct need to bolster two of our critical need departments, one being the police department and one being the fire department,” Snyder says.
Snyder says he is just trying to help bring more money to the city and stop burnout.
He is a homeowner too, and says he and understands how the people feel.
“I’m one of those that has a small house in this community," Snyder said. "I see the value and the need to give these wonderful departments the resources they need to continue to provide safety and security to all the people in Eastman."
He says to grow more and bring more businesses they have to raise revenue. The last time they raised the millage rate was 2018.
If your house is worth 50,000 a two mill increase will cost you about $3.40 cents a month and for a 125,000 home it's about $8.50 cents.