Taxpayers talk to commissioners about raised taxes

Smith Co. -- We are two weeks away from a vote to increase Smith County property taxes.  This morning, there was a packed house of concerned homeowners who told Smith County commissioners that charging them was the wrong thing to do.

At the public hearing, it was hard to convince the crowd that a tax increase is the answer to an $8 million budget gap.  Taxpayers that attended the meeting agree on one thing: raising taxes is not the answer.

TEA party activist Tammy Blair says she is watching.  She says, "Any commissioner that votes for raised taxes will not be re-elected."

Business owner James Blair says, "The county should be aware of what a tax increase will do to small businesses."

In addition to the tax increase, commissioners are also talking about cutting more than 30 jobs at county offices.