Coweta's business

owners got a break Tuesday as the Coweta County Commission decided to

impose a cap on business tax rates.

Business owners

will now pay a maximum fee of $12,000, which is a far cry from some of

the bills businesses received earlier this year.

Late last year,

the Coweta County Commission removed the cap for business occupation tax

rates. Previously, businesses would pay a maximum $3,000 bill.

But when the

commission decided to figure the bill based on gross receipts this year,

the complaints started.

During a County

Commission meeting last month, Richard Westerfield of Yokogawa Corporation

of America asked the board to consider raising the tax rate in increments.

Last year,

the large manufacturer paid its $3,000 and budgeted for the same bill

this year.

But when officials

opened their bill in January, they discovered the amount owed was $104,000.

The commission

reiterated the county's business tax rates were still the lowest in the

region. Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter said the company has

actually received a tax break over the last few years.

But Tuesday,

the board decided to implement the $12,000 cap and instructed staff to

study the issue further.

"I have

felt uneasy about this from the beginning," said Commission Chairman

Jim McGuffey.

Commissioner

Robert Wood agreed.

"I think

there should be input from the business community. Whoever is using the

services should pay on the assessed need," he added.