Todd Mobley

THOMASVILLE — Three Thomasville City Council members are opposed to a one-mill tax from which revenue would go to the Thomasville Payroll Development Authority (PDA).

The remaining two council members did not respond to questions about whether they would vote for the tax or if they were aware of a Monday meeting at which a PDA/Thomasville-Thomas County partnership was discussed.

Neither did Mayor Greg Hobbs, who is also PDA chairman, nor Council member Wanda Warren respond to questions about why they did not attend the meeting.

Four Thomas County commissioners and the county manager were present at the event.

A woman in the meeting audience pointed out that no city council members were present.

Council member David Hufstetler said he was not aware of the meeting and did not receive a “specific invitation” to the event.

Hufstetler said he met in recent weeks with PDA and chamber executive directors. The partnership was a topic of discussion, Hufstetler said.

Would he vote for a one-mill PDA tax? 

“No,” Hufstetler, who is also mayor pro tem, said. “Read my lips — no new taxes.”

The city levies no property taxes, Hufstetler pointed out.

“To the PDA’s credit, Shelley (Zorn, PDA executive director) does a great job in recruiting and helping industry,” he said.

Hufstetler is satisfied with what city government gives the PDA. He thinks it is “adequate and generous.”

Council member Jay Flowers said that as a council member, he was made aware of the meeting.

“The meeting was between the chamber of commerce and PDA boards. That’s who was invited to attend the meeting,” Flowers said, adding that he was not meant to be at the event.

The council member said the city has provided for the PDA for years through the utilities arm of city government.

Flowers thinks it would be “very difficult” for the tax to be approved by council.

“I am not in favor of taxes in general, so I probably would not vote for a tax to support the PDA,” the council member said.

Flowers said he is aware of the chamber’s frustrations and problems and thinks there are ways other than a tax to bring life back to the chamber.

The council, he said, voted out the last tax — a fire tax — about six years ago. “We had voted out everything else prior to that,” Flowers said.

Todd Mobley, at-large council member, said he and Hufstetler met with Zorn and that he supports her and the PDA.

“I think she does a great job, but I’m not in favor of a tax,” Mobley said. “I think there will be further discussion by the council.”

He said the council takes pride in not levying taxes.

“We’ve always taken care of Shelley Zorn,” Mobley said. 

Pointing out he had already met with Zorn, Mobley said he was not made aware of the meeting. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820