CLEVELAND, Ga.- The Cleveland City Council held its second millage rate hearing on Aug. 23 at 9:00 a.m., the third and final one will take place on Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

City Administrator Kevin Harris presented the council with another option for the millage rate. At the first meeting, he recommended a rate of 5.472 and now he believes the city can take the full rollback of 5.056 mills.

To review the first meeting visit https://white.fetchyournews.com/2022/08/16/council-holds-millage-rate-meeting/. There is also a notice on the City’s homemade for the original millage rate to review that visit https://www.cityofclevelandga.org/.

Harris reviewed the collection of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) since FY2007. He noticed a trend starting in FY2011 that the actual collections exceed the budgeted amount. He also showed a graph of how property taxes have increased since FY2007.

With the passage of the law that allows for internet sales to be received in the area in which the order was placed the tax collection has grown even larger. In FY21 there was a $383,924 difference and in FY22 there has been so far a $305,226 difference.

Harris feels with this trend the City can take the full rollback of 5.056 mills. This would bring in $539,940.35 in revenues.

If this is the option the council chooses to take then Harris will closely monitor the LOST sales every month. In Jan. he will then make a recommendation if necessary for a budget amendment.

Heard in the clip above is Harris explaining why he feels like this is possible. The council will vote on this after their last public hearing.

Tedi Boling was present at the meeting. Boling and her husband were also presented at the last meeting and voiced their concerns about the city not taking the full rollback.

“Thank you for your presentation that was actually very nice, I appreciate the hard work you did as well it makes me feel like my voice was heard as a citizen,” commented Boling.

UPDATE:

The Council voted 3 to 1 in favor of the full rollback rate at the meeting. The new millage rate for the City of Cleveland is 5.056 mills which is not a tax increase.

“I need to express my concern I am not in favor of the full rollback and these are my reasons why our economy is unstable and that’s where my concern is,” stated Councilmember Nan Bowen.