Gilmer County commissioners approved advertising the rollback rate for the 2022 budget.
Commissioners held the vote at a special called meetign on July 28.
Post Commissioner Hubert Parker said he would like to discuss further reducations to the millage rate if possible.
“It may be a cut, but this brings in $600,000 more than last year,” he said.
Gilmer Chair Charlie Paris agreed, but said he had thoughts on the other side.
“It does, and I’m concerned that we’re going to be a million to a million and a half short with inflation,” he said.
Parker asked if they could make a reduction on the bond millage rate.
Paris said if the bond rate was reduced by a quarter point, the county would have to dip into reserves, and it would put them dangerously close to not having enough reserves.
Inflation was very much on the chairman’s mind as he brought up fuel and material costs and increasing construction costs which will affect daily operations and the construction of the county pool.
“I’m very concerned how we are going to come up with the 2023 budget without cutting services big time,” Paris said.
It was agreed the board would advertise the rollback rate and discuss possible reductions to the millage rate while assembling the budget.
By Georgia law, counties are required to calculate a rollback rate to keep the revenue neutral. If the digest increases, meaning the assessed property increases in value, but the millage rate is kept the same, resulting in an increase in revenue, it must be advertised as a tax increase.
Based on the state formula, Gilmer County will roll back their millage rate from 6.222 to 5.541. The rollback millage rate will still net the county $692,277 more in revenue. The total revenue projected from the millage rate is $11,082,822 at 100 percent collection.
Gilmer County’s adjusted maintenance and operations tax digest increased from $1.67 billion in 2021 to $2 billion in 2022.
Commissioners maintained the bond millage rate, used to pay off the county’s general obligation bond, at 1 mil. Last year, the board reduced it from 1.25 to 1. The mil will provide $2,013,666 which will be applied toward the bond payment.
Paris made the motion to advertise the rollback rate, which was seconded by Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson. The vote was unanimous.