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ALBANY,GA --
Residents in the unincorporated Dougherty County are asking their commissioner to explain why their millage rate is being raised by two mills.

Ewell Lyle represents those living outside the city of Albany and while he says he doesn't want to raise taxes, it seems the finance committee may have no choice.

“Now because of revenues, businesses have moved out of the unincorporated area, Cooper Tire, Merck, those types of things, we just don't have as much funds to do that,” says Lyle.

County Administrator Richard Crowdis says the only way to avoid a millage rate is to cut funds to the Special Services District Fund, which covers the unincorporated county.

However, two-thirds of that money goes to fund the police and fire departments.

For a $100,000 home, two mills would equal $80 a year.