THOMASVILLE — Thomasville City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve city government’s 2017 budget, while Thomas County commissioners voted 5-3 Tuesday on next year’s finances.

Commission Vice Chairman Phillip Brown and commissioners Merrill Baker and Moses Gross voted against approval of county government’s $23.1 million 2017 budget.

City council approved a $120 million budget that includes increases in water, sewer and sanitation rates. 

In lieu of city property taxes, margins above the cost of providing services are transferred from the city’s utility funds to general government. For fiscal 2017, transfers will be about $10,152,120, an increase of about 1 percent from 2016.

Baker said he voted against the county budget, because he wants Thomas County Prison to remain open.

The majority of commissioners chose to close the prison, which opened in the 1920s, saying state funding does not cover expenses. Also, commissioners in favor of closing the facility said they do not think taxpayers want to foot the bill for building a new multimillion-dollar prison.

“They (the commission) budgeted enough money to keep it open through June,” Baker said.

Pointing out acreage at the prison, Baker said the current prison could remain open while a new one is built. Once the new building was occupied, the old prison could be torn down, he explained.

Prison employees will be out of jobs July 1, Baker said.

He added, “I voted against the budget hoping they would come up with a new budget. … We’re looking out for employees. We’re also looking out for the county.”

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