Despite outcries against the move during a public hearing Monday, Sweetwater commissioners voted unanimously to increases the property tax rate from $1.05 to $1.14 per $100 of assessed value.

Commissioners said the increase was needed to keep up city services in the face of skyrocketing fuel and other costs for the upcoming budget year.

Some residents said they understood that costs to run the city have gone up but they chided commissioners for not doing more to recruit new businesses to bring in sales tax money.

In another controversial move, commissioners voted 5-0 to shift $415,000 in industrial park funds to the general fund.

Some residents said that money should be used to buy land to get more businesses.

Street Commissioner Buster West said he was not opposed to looking into buying land if solid prospects come up.

See more details in Wednesday’s paper.