MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Baldwin County taxpayers could bear the burden of a $15 million budget crisis as county leaders work to address a major payment due by the end of the year. Interim County Manager Paul Van Haute spoke to commissioners during their meeting Tuesday. He told commissioners the county has a $15 million payment due to Century Bank by Dec. 31 and does not currently have the money available. Van Haute said the county is in budget and millage rate setting mode and described some of the possible changes as “pretty Draconian.” Van Haute said Baldwin County has to make the $15 million payment by the end of the year. He also said counties cannot declare bankruptcy. According to Van Haute, if the county does not address the debt, the state could step in and levy the millage rate needed to satisfy it. Van Haute said the only option he can guarantee would put $15 million in the bank by Dec. 31 is a 9.3-mill tax increase on top of the current rate, bringing the millage rate to 19.066 mills. He said that option would generate predictable revenue between October and December, but acknowledged the impact it would have on residents. “The only folks that are going to bear the burden of this are the taxpayers, and for that, I’m sorry,” Van Haute said. Van Haute said the county is also looking at using the Public Facilities Authority to lease county buildings and try to generate revenue through the bond market. He said the county could look at using buildings…
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