FORSYTH COUNTY – Fowler Park still has a chance of opening in 2011 after the Board of Commissioners adopted a millage rate hike to raise taxes enough to cover increases in mandates such as the $2.1 million increase in health care benefits required by federal legislation.
"We have to have something we can live with, but allow us to provide the basic services of the county, but no frills," said Commission Chairman Charles Laughinghouse. "People have said 'Don't raise my taxes, cut my services.'"
Before the commissioners even entered into this discussion, they held a public hearing on the millage rate, listening to a number of county residents. Most spoke against a millage rate increase, but some supported a hike to provide required services and to maintain Forsyth's quality of life.
He said the county hasn't cut services, but instead left the burden on the shoulders of the employees.
"I don't believe the employees can bear that much more," Laughinghouse said. "If citizens don't want a tax increase, let's decide what services they don't get."
Commissioner Patrick Bell said that sounds good today, but it will destroy the economic development opportunities for the county.
Laughinghouse made the motion to increase the Maintenance & Operations (M&O) millage rate by 0.9 mills.
The net effect to a tax bill on a home valued at $200,000 would be a increase of approximatley $62.80.
It was the third motion to raise the rate. Commissioner Jim Boff moved to raise the rate by 0.6 mills, but his motion was defeated. Commissioner Brian Tam moved to raise the millage rate the full amount advertised, 1.595 mills. That also failed. And another motion he made for a 1.15 mill increase after a short recess so staff could get numbers together also failed.
"Well, it looks like we are between .6 and 1.15," Tam said.
Bell said he couldn't see adopting a millage rate to operate a park without restoring some of the employees' benefits. He suggested a millage rate that either doesn't open Fowler Park and funds basic services, or one high enough to open Fowler Park and restores at least some benefits.
Before the decision, Dan Wolf asked the commissioners not to raise the millage rate.
"I would beg you not to increase the taxes," Wolf said.
Wolf told the commissioners they need to reduce spending just like businesses and households have to do. He said other residents made relevant comments comparing what goes on in Washington, D.C., to what was proposed in Forsyth County.
"And we don't want to copy that model in any way," Wolf said.
Rick Lee, a Cumming CPA, said he appreciated the effort the county commission made. But he challenged them to dig deep in the budget. He's said he had to advise clients to stop matching employees' 401(k) contributions otherwise they would have to layoff employees or even shut down their businesses.
Chris Pike of Evans Farm was another CPA who spoke at the public hearing. While the millage rate didn't change last year, his taxes went down. Pike said he was still paying less in taxes than he did several years ago. And he said the presentation comparing taxes paid on a $200,000 home last year and what they would be for 2010 wasn't a good comparison.
"I would challenge you that's not the same $200,000 home. Last year that $200,000 home is only $180,000 this year," Pike said. "A lot of properties have gone down, causing revenues to go down."
Pike asked commissioners to consider economic development.
"Stop paving roads, stop hiring deputies to match the growth, stop improving our parks and greenspace and see what happens," he said. "And if you don't believe me, just look at Clayton County."
After many layoffs in recent years, Pike suggested the commissioners should not take its employees for granted.
It would be easy to do nothing. He asked the commission to spend what is needed, and nothing more.
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Brian and Jennifer Vanderhoff North Fulton County REALTORS Vanderhoff Real Estate (770) 331-1206 ---
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Labels: foreclosed homes for sale, foreclosure, Forsyth County, millage rate, Taxes
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Brian Vanderhoff @ 9:35 AM
