Mayor blasts Roswell council on tax rate

Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, who last year threatened to veto the City Council's 2011 budget, is blasting the council’s vote Monday to keep the tax rate the same. In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Wood said he had submitted a budget that would have cut property taxes by about $500,000, lowering the average homeowner's bill by $12.

Betty Price was the only council member to support the mayor's proposal. Other council members said it could set up the city for major future expenses for streets and equipment.

A final hearing on the budget is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.