Friday, June 29, 2012
Fulton revisits possible millage increase July 11, 2012
County residents will be able to make their voices heard in person or via video-conference at a July 11 public hearing on whether to increase the millage rate. The county is reconsidering increasing the millage rate from 10.281 mills to 10.791 mills to offset a decline in property values. County officials say the millage rate will be revenue neutral for many because the tax increase will be offset by the devaluation of property. However, individual property owners will see varied results. Should the increase pass, it would add $17 million to the county's General Fund. If the rate does not pass, recommended budget cuts include the reduction or elimination of certain services, including arts, human services and FRESH grants, reducing the hours of libraries and reducing the funding of Grady Health Care System. Fulton County Public Affairs Manager Jessica Corbitt-Dominguez said these are not services mandated by the state or the federal governments, so this is where the county manager focused the first cuts. The county has not had a millage rate increase in more than 10 years and has maintained the current millage rate since 2007. Real and personal property values have declined $7.35 billion over the last four years from $48.04 billion in 2008 to $40.69 billion in 2012, a decline of 15.3 percent. Georgia also has doubled the homestead exemption since 2008 from $15,000 to $30,000, further decreasing county revenues. When the exemption is coupled with the fall in property values, there has been an overall 33.3 percent decline in property tax generated. For example, if a home's value declined from $150,000 to $127,050, the county tax collected drops from $462.65 to $214.05 or 46 percent. But for homeowners whose property values have started to rise again, it will mean paying more tax. The county's unemployment rate was at 10.5 percent in 2011 with those living in poverty rising from 14.2 percent to 17.7 percent from 2007 to 2010, so at the time there is an increased burden on county services, declining tax revenues has meant shrinking expenditures. The county spent $641.6 million in 2007, and by 2011 county spending was $558.4 million, a reduction of $83.2 million. The hearing will take place 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, at the Fulton County Government Center on Pryor Street in Atlanta. The meeting will also be teleconferenced at the north and south Fulton service centers. North Fulton residents who wish to participate can go to the North Fulton Government Service Center, 7741 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. In a statement on her website, Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann said taxpayers were at their limits and that she opposed any tax increase. She and Commissioner Robb Pitts voted against advertising a tax increase. Labels: Fulton, millage rate
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 9:02 AM
Thursday, July 29, 2010
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.
--- Brian and Jennifer Vanderhoff North Fulton County REALTORS Vanderhoff Real Estate (770) 331-1206 --- Milton, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale North Fulton County, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale Forsyth, GA Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale --- Labels: foreclosed homes for sale, foreclosure, Forsyth County, millage rate, Taxes
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 9:35 AM
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The City of Roswell Proposes Millage Rate
The City of Roswell is proposing its millage rate for fiscal year 2008-2009 to remain at 5.657 mills. Revenues in the proposed budget are projected to increase 11 percent or $11,572,700 for a total of $117,326,387. Expenditures are projected to increase 12 percent or $12,050,611 for a total budget of $116,472,303. The increase in revenue will primarily be spent on public safety and transportation. The typical Roswell property tax bill on a $300,000 home would remain $678.84. Roswell Mayor and Council will hold three public hearings at City Hall in Council Chambers on the proposed budget: June 2 at 7:30 p.m., June 9 at 6:30 p.m., and the final reading and vote on June 16 at 7:30 p.m. Labels: City of Roswell, fiscal year 2008-2009, millage rate, Roswell City Council
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 4:13 PM
Alpharetta Lowers Millage Rate
The City of Alpharetta will significantly reduce the millage rate it applies to property taxes in Fiscal Year 2009 to 5.750 mills, a reduction of 0.498 mills from the City’s 2008 rate. In spite of the reduction, the City will be required to advertise a property tax increase. Georgia law requires the City to compute a “rollback millage rate” that would produce the same total revenue after reassessments as had been received from property taxes in the previous Fiscal Year. Due to projected reassessments, the City’s millage rate for Fiscal Year 2009 will increase property tax revenues by 7.06% over the rollback rate, so by law a tax increase must be advertised. The projected tax digest for Fiscal Year 2009 reflects historically large reassessments of the value of commercial properties by the Fulton County Tax Assessor. It is anticipated that many of these reassessments will be challenged or litigated. The outcome of those challenges could significantly reduce the tax digest. The City must adopt its annual millage rate by June 30; well before the resolution of any assessment challenges. To mitigate this issue, the City is not adopting the rollback millage rate. This action ensures that should material portions of the reassessments be reduced, the City can continue to provide the services its citizenry and businesses deserve while still providing for a millage rate reduction. The City of Alpharetta will hold three public hearings to hear and consider citizen comments regarding the proposed FY 2009 millage rate. These hearings will be held at Alpharetta City Hall, located at 2 South Main Street, on the following dates and times: Thursday, June 12 at 11:30 AM Thursday, June 12 at 6:30 PM Thursday, June 19 at 7:30 PM Labels: Alpharetta, millage rate, reduction
# posted by Brian Vanderhoff @ 4:12 PM
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