SENECA — It would seem the taxpayers in Oconee County either want some of their taxes back or they want them spent.

On one hand an unscientific, man-on-the-street poll Tuesday indicated a little bit of indecision about whether the county has actually collected too much taxes, but on the other hand provided a whole lot of disenchantment with the prospect the county may be just sitting on the money.

"If they have collected too many taxes, I think the county should use it for overall community upgrades, like our roads and drainage systems,’ said Judy Westmoreland of Walhalla.

“There isn't a great way to give that money back to the residents equally, so it should go into the community as a whole, but it shouldn't just sit there," she added.

Oconee County appears to have plenty of cash — more than $43 million in investments and checking balance, $12.3 million for cash flow and $6.6 million unused from previous years in the Capital Projects Fund.

Some county officials have suggested too many taxes have been collected for the last several years. Audit reports indicate the county has consistently underspent its budget and a good number of projects, and the money to fund them, have rolled over, some for as many as four years.

County officials appear sensitive to the public perception that the cushion in reserves indicates that Oconee is collecting more taxes than it needs for county and school operations. They say the county’s reserves easily could be gobbled up by pressing needs such as more jail space and courthouse modifications to comply with federal guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Not everyone agrees with that assessment.

Tuesday, the Daily Journal/Messenger asked folks on the street: “Some officials claim that Oconee County has collected too much taxes and has failed to spend what it has collected. Do you agree? If you do agree, what do you feel should be done with the county’s excess tax revenues?”

"Yes, I do think they have collected too many taxes. We know that Oconee has a big reserve pile of funding. It should be used to build and improve more community parks, roads and to clean up abandoned lots. If they aren't willing to do that, the people deserve a refund," said Sara Simpson of Westminster.

Morris Keasler of Walhalla was more to the point. "There should be a refund to the people if too many taxes have been collected," he said.

Jeff Griffith of Walhalla agreed. "If that is the case, then I think I rebate or refund is the best solution."

And, Gene Watkins, also of Walhalla, was even more to the point.

"Oconee County has collected too many taxes; that's for damn sure. And I think they should lower the property tax."