Coweta's senior

citizens let the County Commission know Tuesday that it wants tax relief.

The problem,

though, is they want relief from the school board's maintenance and operation

tax, which the county does not govern.

Bill Griggers,

who has gathered petitions in his drive to get tax relief, started out

his presentation to the county with an unusual statement.

"I don't

think I should be here," he said.

Griggers said

he has been trying to get a referendum on the ballot that would eliminate

the maintenance and operation taxes for residents 65 and older and was

starting to feel like a dog chasing his tail.

He has brought

his proposal to the school board, but did not get a response. After talking

to the local state legislators, he got the impression that either the

school board or the county commissioners would have to agree with his

idea before legislation could be introduced.

But the commission

told Griggers that state legislators could introduce any type of legislation

they wanted without a local government blessing.

"We're

just trying to put it to the voters. It would only cost the citizens about

$25 a year," he said.

While the board

sympathized with Griggers and voiced personal support for his idea, they

could not give it a county endorsement.

"Board

of Education taxes is Board of Education business," said Commissioner

Vernon "Mutt" Hunter.

Griggers thanked

the board for listening and said he would contact the local legislators

again about bringing a referendum to the voters.