In December 2001, I retired from the city council after having served for 28 years (seven terms for four year), and many of those years I served as chairman of the budget committee.

I have followed the discussion of the county commissioners concerning whether or not there will be a tax increase. An increase proposed would be 0.57 mills, which would translate into $23 more tax for property with a fair market value of $100,000. While this is not a large increase, it is for someone who has lost his job. I read that the jobless rate has jumped up to 11.5 percent.

When I retired from the city council, the city had a fund set aside for such a problem of approximately $10 million, while the county has a fund set aside of $12 million, $2 million more than the city.

You will note that the City of Bainbridge has made no talk of raising taxes to fund its shortage this year. I don’t understand why the county could do as the city and use some of the funds that have been set aside for this purpose.

I would like for the people of Decatur County to rise up and protest this unneeded tax increase.

George E. DanielBainbridge, Ga.