No one likes taxes.

Well, no one paying the taxes enjoys them, although it seems some folks in government take pleasure in imposing fees and raising taxes.

Residents in Surry County and Mount Airy, however, are fortunate in this regard. Members of the city board of commissioners and county board of commissioners have both said this year they do not intend to raise taxes on area residents.

Several members of the county board have cautioned county department heads to keep their budget requests level with current spending, and they have told organizations coming to the board asking for money to realize all funding will be kept flat. Some have said they will not fund new projects or additional spending on school construction if it means an increase in the tax rate.

In the city, the sentiments among the board members seems to be the same. Several commissioners have even said they do not foresee any circumstances where they would raise water and sewer rates.

We often call public officials to task when we do not believe they are doing what is in the best interest of the people they represent. At the same time, it is important to recognize when they are taking great pains to do what is best for their constituents, especially when so many of their counterparts at the state and federal level seem not so responsive to citizen needs.

This is one of those cases, and we wholeheartedly endorse the stand these commissioners are taking against tax and fee hikes this year.