New Burns mayor, commissioner hope to reduce property tax rate next year

New Burns Mayor Landon Mathis says he is in favor of reducing the town’s property tax rate when the new budget year rolls around in July. In his first meeting as a commissioner Monday night, Bill Allen said he plans to present some suggested cuts next month. In August 2011, the Board of Commissioners doubled the Burns property tax rate from 33 cents to 66 cents per $100 of assessed value. The change came after a first vote and public hearing had been held on a proposed budget with no tax increase. Vice Mayor Steven Hayes proposed the increase saying the town needed the additional $58,000 in revenue for several projects. But when asked about the tax increase at Monday night’s first meeting with the new mayor and two new commissioners, Mathis said he plans on looking at reducing the rate for the 2013-14 budget. The tax rate cannot be changed during the fiscal year and current property taxes are due by Feb. 28. Allen, who earlier in the meeting said he campaigned on a promise not to raise taxes, said he will present some suggested cuts in spending at the board’s Jan. 7 meeting that he hopes will start reducing expenses to better prepare the town for its next budget. New Commissioner Shot Grove pointed out that of the three officials who voted for the tax increase last year, only Hayes remains on the board. Commissioner Jerry Baker lost his bid for re-election and Commissioner Lewis Orcutt unsuccessfully ran for mayor in last month’s municipal election.