NATCHEZ &045; Expressing concerns about their own wallets, Adams County residents asked budget-conscious supervisors Tuesday night not to raise taxes by 2.34 mills.

&uot;Have we looked at our community?&uot; asked Robert Joseph, who helps run a non-profit community aid agency. &uot;There’s some people hurting out there. If we compound their problems, two and two don’t make four to me.&uot;

County supervisors are considering the millage rate increase to support an $813,636 deficit in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. After Tuesday’s hearing, they will vote on the new budget at 9 a.m. Friday.

The main reasons for the increase are a decrease in state, federal and local revenue, said Adams County Administrator Charlie Brown, along with greater expenditures in overlaying roads and operating the port.

Brown said supervisors agreed now was the time to undertake some overlaying of roads, at a cost of $295,000.

&uot;If we’re ever going to overlay these old roads, we should do it this year and bite the bullet,&uot; he said, noting that next year’s revenue could be even lower with International Paper closed.

The port &045; which until International Paper’s business in Natchez ceased was self-sufficient &045; will cost the county another $170,00 next year.

&uot;The main reason for the increase is to keep the port open,&uot; said Supervisor Sammy Cauthen.

But the cost of keeping the port open raised several questions from residents who wondered if it should simply be shut down.

Supervisors said the county has entertained three serious industrial prospects in recent weeks &045; none of whom, they said, would choose Adams County as a site without a port.

&uot;That’s why we cannot afford to shut down the port,&uot; Cauthen said. &uot;None of these (industries) are guaranteed, but if we shut down the port, you’re not going to attract any jobs.&uot;

One resident asked if supervisors could close the port until they find out about a prospective business locating there.

&uot;If you close the port, that would be the end of it,&uot; Supervisor Virginia Salmon said. &uot;This has to be protected to maintain that business.&uot;

Other residents questioned whether supervisors could cut salaries or personnel.

&uot;At Natchez Regional (Medical Center), everybody took pay cuts because that’s what you have to do,&uot; said Susan McIntosh, a nurse who was recounting budget problems the hospital had a few years ago. &uot;Everybody needs to do their part.&uot;

Some residents suggested those pay cuts should come from the top &045; meaning supervisors’ pay.

Other residents asked whether department heads could cut their budgets another 10 percent to make up for the tax increase.

&uot;We cut $1,208,763 out of 26 departments,&uot; Brown said. &uot;We got down just as far as we thought we could possibly go.&uot;