Could a tax

increase be on the way to help fund services for the

explosive growth that's occurring in Coweta County?

That was

one of the options discussed during the Tuesday afternoon

meeting of the Coweta County Board of Commissioners.

"It

may be the only option we have left," said

Commissioner Jim McGuffey.

McGuffey

expressed concern the board would not be able to fund the

Sheriff's Department request for 10 additional officers.

The county staff recommended hiring four officers, but

McGuffey said the sheriff is really the only person who

knows what his personnel needs are.

County

administrator Theron Gay said the county staff tries to

balance the needs of all departments against the revenues

the county receives.

"It

took us about a month to come up with these

figures," he said.

Outside of

raising taxes, the only option for increased revenues

would be an increase in the county's tax digest. Gay

praised the commissioners for their recent purchase of

the Shenandoah Industrial Park and said it may prove to

bring in some extra dollars to the digest through new

industrial companies moving into the county.

Commissioner

Charlie Jones said the Fire Department also is desperate

for more funding, because there is a 2.5-mill cap on

using tax revenues for fire services.

Another

area that concerned Commissioner Vernon "Mutt"

Hunter is public works.

"We're

always asking these people to do things and I'm going to

make sure they're taken care of as long as I'm up

here," he said. Hunter is former public works

director for Fayette County.

The

commissioners did not take any action on the budget

Tuesday, but will vote on the final budget proposal at 9

a.m. Jan. 4 at their regular meeting.