Property taxes and budget preparations continued to dominate much of the conversation at Tuesday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Anson County Board of Commissioners.

After the commissioners honored retired dentist Dr. George Puryear, Victoria Whitt with Sandhills Mental Health and Phyllis Dunlap of the Anson County Arts Council both requested funding for their organizations for the coming fiscal year.

Whitt reported that for the 11th straight year, Sandhills was not increasing its requested budget amount, keeping it at $55,000. “All of this money stays in Anson County,” she reminded the board.

Dunlap did not request a specific dollar amount from the commissioners, but reminded them of the many activities the arts council engages in year-round, including its theatre productions, work with the county’s schools and receptions. “Supporting the arts council helps the arts council support the community,” she said.

Elaine Scarborough, executive director of the Anson County Partnership for Children, requested that the commissioners provide $25,000 to bring a Nurse-Family Partnership program to the county. She pointed out that the Partnership has been serving the county since 1997, and has not asked for any county funding whatsoever since 1996. More information on the NFP program can be found in the May 13 edition of The Anson Record.

In other budget news, the commissioners set their budget public hearing for June 11 at 6 p.m., with a budget workshop to follow.

Regarding the continuing issue of unpaid property taxes, Truett Wright addressed the board to talk about what he sees as a discrepancy between property taxes from one piece of land to another within the county.

“The more land you own, the county gives a discount,” he said. “For instance, if you own 20 acres and your neighbor owns 40 acres, they get an automatic $1,900 discount.”

Wright added that in 2009, some of his property was taken off his tax listing without his permission. Again in 2014, a county tax office employee removed him from the farm program. He said that in December, he met with tax assessor Larry Newton, only to be told that the county would not accept the paperwork he provided.

“We’re losing property value by giving large property owners these discounts,” Wright said. “Land is land. You can’t have land here and then the land right next to it with a $2,000 difference.”

He also said that it was time for the county citizens “to get off their seats and do something” about the tax problems.

Janet Dyson had similar complaints about the tax values in her community near Polkton. “I know y’all hear a bunch of complaining,” she said, “but I want to challenge you to look at zoning issues and issues like this from our side. I want to ask y’all to hear us, even if it’s through our anger or frustration.”

In other business at the commissioners meeting:

-Cooperative Extension director Janine Rywak gave an update on the agri-civic center, stating that she hopes to have a recommendation at the August meeting for an architectural firm.

-The commissioners approved a vehicle use policy that was discussed at last month’s meeting.

-The commissioners approved the ACTS feasibility study, which will allow the project to move ahead and seek state funding. The proposed location of a new ACTS facility can be changed at a later date, County Clerk Bonnie Huntley said.

-After a bit of discussion, Commissioner Jarvis Woodburn motioned to approve a new AT&T antenna on a county water tower, contingent upon the county attorney receiving a letter from Utility Services indemnifying the county.

-Emergency services director Rodney Diggs reported that a heavy-duty truck is needed in order to pull a generator and fuel trailer that the county may soon receive. The generator would allow the county to be able to supply power in a remote location, if needed, such as a major disaster or if the sheriff needed to assess a crime scene that was out in the county, with no lighting. Commissioner Jim Sims motioned that the commissioners make the truck a priority during their budget planning. His motion was approved unanimously.

-The commissioners appointed Joanne Clark as a delegate and Angela DePietro as an alternate to the Region F Aging Advisory Committee, and also reappointed Todd Moore, Shirley Crawford and Pearl Blount to the Anson Agricultural Advisory Board.

The commissioners will next meet on June 2 at 6 p.m. in the Anson County Government Center.