EAST POINT, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Some East Point residents say Mayor Earnestine Pittman and some members of the city council want to send them to the poor house by raising taxes.
"She wants to double the millage rate from 15 percent to 30 percent. She wants to take away seniors exemptions for anyone over 70. They are probably having trouble enough already living on fixed income. I think the whole thing is hideous," said Joyce Taylor, an East Point resident.
Saturday, dozens of protestors showed up at City Hall to express their frustration, holding signs and shouting anti-taxation slogans. They said they fear what will happen if the proposals are implemented.
"She's proposing to raise the property tax which would be a burden, not only on property owners, but on the renters because they are going to pass along those fees," said Matthew Sweitzer, an East Point resident.
"You have senior citizens that have to make a choice between medicine and food, and you want to increase taxes to that alarming rate? That is just too much," said Sherrie Shaheed, an East Point resident.
CBS Atlanta contacted Pittman to ask Tough Questions about the protestors' concerns. She declined to comment on camera, but over the phone she said she has not officially proposed anything and she said, therefore the protestors are operating off of rumors and inaccurate information. Pittman said her proposals will be announced Thursday. Still she cautioned that taxes will have to go up for the city to survive. Not everyone agrees.
"They should live on the money they are already taking in and stop raising taxes," said Taylor.
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