Franklin County asking congress to approve payments in lieu of taxes

Franklin County’s budget may take a big hit and its going to take congressional action to make sure it doesn’t.

The county commission learned this week that Congress has not yet authorized any payments is lieu of taxes this year, and that could cost Franklin County over 200 thousand dollars.

In the past the county has received payments to make up for tax revenue lost when land is bought by the state or federal government.

Almost all of Franklin County is government owned through the Tate’s Hell State forest and the Apalachicola National Forest.

Last year Franklin County received 230 thousand dollars in payments in lieu of taxes from the federal government.

They were relying on that money again this year and have it as part of the county budget.

The commission voted Tuesday to contact our federal representatives and tell them that the money is very important.

The issue is also being pushed by the National Association of counties because it impacts counties around the nation.

Franklin county already started the budget year about 17 thousand dollars in the hole after there was a decrease of .16% in actual property values from the number the county commission used when it was preparing its budget.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments http://live.oysterradio.com/