CANTON, Miss. (AP) - For the second time this month, The Clarion-Ledger reports (http://on.thec-l.com/QywCgA) Madison County supervisors approved a tax increase to fund next year's budget, despite protests from residents who urged officials to live within their means.

The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 in a special meeting Wednesday to approve an increase in the tax levy by 2.5 mills, which amounts to a $25 hike in taxes on a $100,000 house, for residents living outside municipalities and an increase of a half-mill, which equals about a $5 increase on a $100,000 house, for residents of municipalities.

Madison resident Bill Billingsly suggested the county's spending to hire a public relations firms and a lobbying firm are funds that could be saved in the budget.

The new budget goes into effect Oct. 1.

Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, http://www.clarionledger.com

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