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October 26, 2009

County keeps property tax rate the same, but bills may go up

Jamie Jones

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners did not raise your 2009 property taxes, but your bill still may go up.

The state Legislature, at Gov. Sonny Perdue’s recommendation, did not fund the Homestead Tax Relief Grant this year, meaning most taxpayers will see between a $50 to $175 property tax increase. Commissioners Monday night approved by 4-0 a 5.061 millage rate for 2009, the same as last year. A mill is an amount of tax paid per $1,000 of assessed property value. This year, the county is expected to collect $16.6 million in property taxes, down from $16.9 million in 2008.

“I think it’s very important for the taxpayers to realize that the increase (in their tax bill) comes from the governor and the Legislature by not funding the credits and not anything this board has done as far as millage or budgetary issues,” commissioner Mike Cowan said.

The Homestead Tax Relief Grant accounted for about $428 million in savings for Georgians last year. Perdue recommended not to reimburse local governments for the property tax grants to help deal with a $2.2 billion state budget shortfall.

Commissioners have asked county staff to re-examine the 2010 budget and determine if there are any parts that can be cut. County finance officer Ron Hale said the budget has already been trimmed significantly and the only other considerable savings would come from layoffs or cutting capital projects.

The budget, which has not been passed, includes a one-day-a-month furlough of county employees beginning in April. The days off without pay would save the county about $750,000.

Commissioner Harold Brooker asked if shutting down entire offices and buildings would save more money for the county instead of the rolling furloughs. Brooker believes, for example, closing the courthouse one day a month could save on energy costs.

“Seems like it would make more sense, if we get to that point, to shut it down for a day,” Brooker said.

The proposed budget includes expenditures of $45.1 million, $40.4 million in revenues, and pulling $7.1 million from the county’s reserves. This year, the county budgeted for $43.8 million in expenditures and $41.6 million in revenues, and the county is taking $3.7 million from its reserves. At the beginning of the year, the reserve balance was $26.5 million. The county’s reserve balance would be $13.3 million at the end of next year based on the proposed budget.

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