Business owners in Bulloch County will soon be paying business licenses, or an "occupational tax," like those within area municipalities.
    Bulloch County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt an ordinance that would have most businesses in the county be taxed — a $50 administrative fee and a $75 flat tax.
    This ordinance will require businesses to register by July 1, 2010, said Bulloch County Manager Tom Couch.
     Commissioners advertised a public hearing for the proposed ordinance in the Statesboro Herald April 16. No one at Tuesday's morning meeting spoke during the public hearing.
    In other business, commissioners voted to approve four part-time positions for dump truck drivers. Bulloch County Road Superintendent Eddie Smith said it is becoming increasingly difficult to find eligible inmates, due to issues with their driver's licenses.  Drug offenses, DUIs and even child support convictions interfere with their obtaining CDL licenses, he said.
    The positions would cost about $83,000 a year, and the purchase of new radios for the new drivers would amount to around $9,000, Smith said.
    Commissioners also approved two part-time temporary positions for data entry clerks for the upcoming election, as well as the purchase of five new touch-screen voting machines.