Gilmer County’s Board of Commissioners voted to advertise the rollback rate for the county’s millage rate.
According to Georgia law, county’s cannot collect more in property taxes than the previous year without calling it a tax increase, said Chairman Charlie Paris.
Each year the county must calculate the digest of property taxes, remove any new growth and then compare the amount to be collected versus the previous year. If there is an increase a rollback rate must be calculated. If the county chooses to keep the same millage rate they must advertise it as a tax increase.
In 2019 the millage rate was 6.898. The 2020 proposed rollback rate is 6.783.
The rollback rate was accepted on a 2-0 vote from Paris and Post Commissioner Hubert Parker. Commissioner Karleen Ferguson was unable to attend the meeting.
Commissioners also dropped the bond millage rate from 1.5 to 1.25.
Paris said the bond rate was bumped from 1 mil to 1.5 several years ago because the General Obligation bonds, those voted on by voters, were exceeding the amount collected.
The remaining bonds are paid for through the SPLOST.
Because the payments on the General Obligation bonds were exceeding the 1 mil it was cutting into other projects which were being funded by the SPLOST.
“It was very helpful,” Paris said. “It’s time we start lowering it down again.”
He said the county has built up a reserve and is now in better shape.
The plan is to drop the bond rate from 1.25 to 1 mil next year.