COVINGTON, Ga. – Four of five members of the Newton County Board of Commissioners (BOC) said Tuesday night they either support or are leaning toward supporting a 0.20 increase in the county’s millage rate to make public safety salaries competitive with surrounding counties and enhance the county’s ability to recruit and retain deputies and firefighters. The millage rate would go from 13.44 to 13.64 under the proposal. County Manager Lloyd Kerr and Finance Director Nicole Cross presented two budget options, A and B, to commissioners at the BOC’s May 30 work session.