Gilmer County commissioners voted unanimously to approve the rollback millage rate for 2024.
The vote was taken at a special called meeting July 22.
For the 2024 tax assessments, the rollback rate was calculated at 5.329 mils. The current millage rate is 5.5 mils.
For the bond millage rate, commissioners voted to maintain the rate at .75 mils.
Commissioners will finalize the rates in August after the Gilmer County Board of Education sets its millage rate.
TSPLOST
Commissioners approved the project list for the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax measure which will appear on the November ballot.
TSPLOST is a 1 cent sales tax which will be dedicated to transportation needs in the county. The added cent would bring the county sales tax to 8 cents on the dollar. It would last for five years.
At the meeting, commissioners heard estimates the TSPLOST would bring in approximately $8 million per year and estimated the total for five years at $42 million.
Approved for the project list were two bridges, 159 roads for asphalt paving and 138 roads for triple surface treatment plus striping for all roads. Distances of the various projects for paving range from .05 mile to 12 miles of road.
Costs for all the projects taken together is estimated at $56.6 million using current cost estimates.
Impact fees
At the meeting, commissioners discussed impact fees with William Ross and Paige Hatley, who have worked with many counties in Georgia to implement an impact fee system.
Commissioners will discuss which services in Gilmer County should be included in an impact fee at an August meeting.
Impact fees are assessed when a building permit is issued and must be paid before a certificate of occupation is issued for a project.
Fees can be used to expand county services on items which have a 10-year shelf life or more. The revenue cannot be used to replace or improve existing infrastructure.