Main millage rate to raise .5 mils while bond rate drops .25
A total of nine people spoke at the first two public hearings concerning Gilmer County raising the millage rate for the coming year.
Three public comment periods must be held before commissioners can vote on setting the millage rate. The first two were held Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
A third comment period will be held Aug. 14 at 5:30 p.m. before the regular meeting of the commissioners at 6 p.m.
Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson kicked off the evening comment period. As a private citizen, he said he would never be in favor of raising taxes.
On the other hand, Nicholson said he sat through the county budget meetings and saw the issues facing the county firsthand.
“The sheriff’s office, like every other county department, we have to operate,” he said. “We are facing growing pains.”
Nicholson said he plans to ask for funding for four more deputies and one detective in the next budget to deal with increased call volume.
In the last 10 years, he said call volume had increased 44 percent.
“The bottom line is people are coming here,” he said.
Kimberly Reckles, a regular speaker during the Citizen Wishing to Speak portions of county commissioner meetings, held a 30-minute dialogue with Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris in the morning session and spoke twice in the evening session to oppose the increase.
She said the board’s policies on growth have allowed the population of the county to increase on the back of the taxpayers. Six other speakers, including former post commissioner candidate Doug Rink, echoed her comments.
Paris took time at both sessions to answer some comments and allegations from social media, many of which he said accuse him of being corrupt.
In response, Paris said the county has a full audit done every year, and everyone in the county is entitled to a copy. He also said commissioners do their best to satisfy competing needs and voices within the county.
As for the millage rate increase, Paris said the county has a glaring need.
“We need a fifth ambulance,” Paris said. “That ambulance is not going to run itself.”
The ambulance has been purchased, but in order to staff and supply the ambulance, Paris said it will cost roughly $1 million. This will take up the majority of the net .25 mil increase.
Paris said a review of the current millage rates in Georgia, if the various tax districts are added in with each county, shows Gilmer County having the sixth lowest millage in the state.
A sheet was available at both meetings which shows for a $250,000 home the net increase between raising the maintenance budget millage rate by .5 mils and lowering the bond millage rate by .25 mils would be $25. The total county portion of taxes would be $632.90.
For a $500,000 home, the net increase would be $50 for a total county bill of $1,265.80.
For a $1,000,000 home, the net increase would be $100 for a total county bill of $2,531.60.