GraniteGrok has learned that a "sense of the council" resolution– a test vote on the budget– taken during last night’s Franklin City Council meeting that would bring new taxes in excess of what that city’s Tax Cap would allow, has passed.
According to a message posted on Facebook by Franklin Mayor Ken Merrifield, the council overrode the Tax Cap, overrode the Mayor’s veto, and approved $563,449 in increased taxes and fees. This is the first time in 20 years that the Tax Cap has been broken.
This is not, however, the final word. Members of the public and taxpayers will still have a chance to be heard during the required Public Hearing, which has not yet been set. The budget cannot become final until after that takes place.
Said Mayor Merrifield on the bad news for taxpayers:
"I’ve done everything I could."
Sounds like it’s Tea Time for Franklin. We’ll keep an eye out for that Public Hearing. I cannot believe that politicians would dare do this during the down economy, or, for that matter, anytime, really. Don’t they get it? The people WANT their taxes capped!
