General Store expanding to keep up with demand for tasty grub

Apparently, hatin’ is the new happy! I ain’t kiddin’ y’all! People are just fussin’ and hatin’ all over the ding dang place! Momma’s so tired of it she’s gonna slap the ever-livin’ tar out of the next person she hears fussin’ or hatin’! I mean really! Drastic times call for drastic measures and I’ve got just the scheme! Let’s all channel "Glee," hold hands and start singin’ a warm-your-soul song! Hummm . . . I’m thinkin’ a hit tune from 1967 and the Youngbloods! Somebody call Chip Lyness over at DOCK 103.9 in Greensboro and tell him to play it for us immediately! Perf! Sing it! “Come on people now, smile on your brother. Everybody get together try and love one another right now.” Thanks Chip!
Now don’t y’all feel better? Yes! I feel the love!  Life’s too ding dang short to fuss! Now we’re in the perf mood for the Biz Buzz!

Story by Judy Maxwell

Photos by Angelina Bellebuono

By Judy A. Maxwell
News Editor

Morgan County’s two major taxing entities each approved property-tax increases during called meetings last Thursday night.
The Morgan County Board of Commissioners and Morgan County Board of Education met separately and approved millage-rate increases for the 2011-12 budget years.  The BOC approved a 8.999 mill rate, an increase of 0.599 mills. The BOE approved a mill rate of 15.545, an increase of 1.802.
County property owners will pay a total ad valorem of $2,453.50 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.
City of Madison, the City of Rutledge and the City of Buckhead also approved millage rate hikes during called meetings Thursday. That means property owners in these municipalities will pay even more ad valorem on top of the countywide levies. In Madison, the city council approved a mill rate of 5.446, an increase of 0.652 over last year’s rate (4.794). Property owners will pay an additional $544.60 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.
Rutledge city council voted to keep its millage rate the same at 3.734, meaning a property owner will continue to pay $373.40 per every $100,000 of assessed value.
Buckhead city council approved a slight increase of 0.002860, which equals $28.60 for every $100,000 of assessed value, an $8.60 increase over last year’s tax levy.
Bostwick City Council plans to vote on its proposed mill rate of 1.12 or $112 per every $100,000 of assessed property value at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 28. The proposed rate is unchanged from last year.
The BOC and the BOE each OK’d mill rate increases that were lower than the state-allowed amount.  And both boards shifted monies from their reserve accounts to balance their 2011-12 budgets. The BOC moved about $1 million from its savings, and the BOE transferred $2 million. The BOC spending plan totals $17.4 million and the BOE budget is $27.7 million.

By Jamie Miles • Infographics by Katie Walker

In a country where perfectly good food is tossed from refrigerators to make room for more, how can so many families struggle each day just to put something on the dinner table?