'Cut to the Bare Bones': Commission Chairman Discusses County Budget during Public Forum

During a public forum Monday night, the chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners told those in attendance the county government had made all the budget cuts it could.

“We have cut to the bare bones,” Chairman Daniel Yearwood Jr. said. “We don’t have any more to cut.”

Yearwood called on county residents to step up and inform commissioners where they were willing to give up services.

“If you want a tax increase, tell us,” Yearwood said. “(But) I don’t want to put more burden on the taxpayers.”

The chairman highlighted several projects in the works during the forum, which he opened up for questions from attendees. Among those projects was the planned bypass from Ga. Highway 316 to Ga. Highway 211, a project Yearwood said he hopes will be funded through a transportation tax that will be placed on the ballot for voters to decide on in fall of 2012.

“That will help Barrow County and the city of Winder more than anything that’s happened in the last 50 years,” Yearwood said of the bypass.

The chairman also urged residents age 62 and older to apply for an available to them. Residents must apply for the exemption every year. For more information, contact the county tax assessor’s office by calling 770-307-3108.

Didn't get to attend Monday night's public forum with the chairman? Watch video of the conversation Yearwood had with those in attendance by clicking on the first of three video clips to the right of this article.