Council Holds Second Millage Hearing Update: Vote Taken
Announcements, Citizens Speak, Community August 23, 2022
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/.
City Administrator Kevin Harris while giving his millage rate presentation.
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 while addressing the council and Harris about the millage rate.
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.
Nan Bowen while speaking in opposition to the full rollback.
Board of Education Approves Millage Rollback
Announcements, Board of Education, Community August 23, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga.- The White County Board of Education voted to approve the FY22 millage rate rollback at their work session.
At the work session, Assistant Superintendent Scott Justus presented this month’s ESPLOST request and the Aug. construction update. Cindy Free presented the board with two new policy updates that will be tabled for 30 days.
Finance Director Julie Dorsey presented the board with the millage rollback rate at their July meetings. For a refresher on that meeting visit https://white.fetchyournews.com/2022/07/29/school-resource-officers-agreement-amended/.
The notice that the Board of Education put out in advance of the meeting.
The previous year’s millage rate was 16.060 mills and the rollback rate suggested and approved was 14.222 mills. This will result in no tax increase for the Board of Education.
The projected revenue for collections at this rate is $16,488,245. This is $700,000 over the projected revenue budgeted for in the FY23 budget.
Heard in the clip above is Dorsey explaining a little about the millage rate. She also can be heard stating that this will not cause a tax increase.
This month’s ESPLOST request is for $22,636.00. This is for new equipment for the finance department, window furnishing for Warrior Academy, and two facility updates. One of the facility updates will be slipt with the Helmet club. The board will take action on this at the Regular meeting on Thursday.
Justus also gave an update on construction. Testnee Gap roof is 100% complete and the HVAC is 98% complete they are just waiting on two heat strips that are on backorder. The transportation facility is about halfway complete and the hope is to have it open around Oct. or Nov.
The full details on the performing arts center and the athletic fields.
The Performing Arts Center and the athletic fields are 100% complete with the clearing, grubbing, and aggregated piers. The foundation has become being poured for the center.
The two policies that Free introduced are IEDA and JRB. The first policy states that students in K-8 have to have scheduled break time, which they already do.
The second policy is JRB which is in response to House Bill 1178, this bill is the Parental Bill of Rights. To read through the entire bill visit https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1178/2021. This policy will help promote parent involvement and give parents options to object to materials their students are being taught with.
Most of the elements in the policy are already part of different policies the school district has in place. To see any of the board of education policies visit https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/PolicyListing.aspx?S=4176. The policies have to sit for 30 days before the board can take action on them, after they are approved the protocols for JRB will be posted on the home page of the school system website.
Superintendent Dr. Laurie Burkett also reminded the board that on Aug. 23 at 6:00 p.m. in the Middle School cafeteria there will be an informational parent meeting on vaping. All parents are encouraged to attend. The Board of Education redid the vaping protocols over the summer for more information on those go to https://white.fetchyournews.com/2022/04/29/board-approves-new-vaping-procedures/.
Special Called Public Hearings Aug. 23
Announcements, Community August 22, 2022
CLEVELAND, Ga.- The Cleveland City Council will be holding two public meetings and a special call meeting on Aug. 23 to give the public an opportunity to discuss the millage rate.
The public meetings will be at 9:00 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. The special call meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m. The meetings are open to the public. These are the agendas for the meetings.
Public Hearing 9:00 a.m.:
- Call to Order
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approve Agenda
PUBLIC HEARING
- 2022 Millage Rate and Digest and comments from the public
ADJOURN
Public Hearing 6:30 p.m.:
- Call to Order
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approve Agenda
PUBLIC HEARING
- 2022 Millage Rate and Digest and comments from the public
ADJOURN
Special Call Meeting:
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve Agenda
2022 Millage Rate
4. Adoption
EXECUTIVE SESSION
5. Discussion regarding real estate and personnel matters
ADJOURN
BOC ready to set rollback millage rate
News August 20, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. The White County Board of Commissioners will set the 2022 millage rollbackrate at 9.505 when it meets in a called session Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the County Administration Building on Helen Hwy.
The county initially sent a notice to the newspaper that the millage rate would be set at 10 mils because the tax digest was late coming in, When the digest finally came in, it was better than had been anticipated, leading commissioners to decide to lower the rate a full percentage point to 9.505
The Board will also consider Kendyl Brock’s request to rezone 5.14 acres at 540 Ascension Trail in Cleveland to be placed into the County’s short-term rental program.
The Board will also consider Margaret Guzinski and Carl Heck’s request to reason 1 acre at 349 Horton Creek Road in Helen to be placed into the County’s short-term rental program.
Council Holds Millage Rate Meeting
Announcements, Business, Citizens Speak, Community August 16, 2022
CLEVELAND, Ga.- The Cleveland City Council held the first of three public hearings to discuss the millage rate for the coming year.
City Administrator Kevin Harris presented the millage rate presentation to the council and community members that were present. The millage rate for 2021 is 5.918 and the proposed millage rate for 2022 is 5.472.
This is not a full rollback of the millage rate. The board of education and county voted to accept their full rollbacks. To review the board of education’s please visit https://white.fetchyournews.com/2022/07/29/school-resource-officers-agreement-amended/.
Under the 5.472 millage rate the taxes levied would be $629,772. This would be an 8.99% net tax increase. Only two people from the community spoke at this hearing.
Mrs. Boling while speaking to the council.
Mr. and Mrs. Boling both voiced their concerns about the city not taking a full rollback rate. Mrs. Boling has emailed all the council members and had a phone call with Senator Steve Gooch. The Bolings plan to be at all the hearings on the millage rate.
“It breaks my heart that no one else was here to speak,” stated Mrs. Boling after the meeting.
To review the tax digest visit https://cms6.revize.com/revize/clevelandga/Current%202022%20Tax%20Digest%20and%205%20Year%20History%20of%20Levy.pdf. The proposed increase to a home marketed for $150,000 is $24.963.
There will be two more hearings on Aug. 23 and the vote will take place after the last hearing. The first hearing on the Aug. 23 is at 9:00 a.m. and the last one will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Commissioners ready to set millage rate
News July 31, 2021
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. –The Board of Commissioners will meet Monday (Aug. 2) at 4:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room, located at 1235 Helen Hwy. to consider adopting a resolution to set the 2021 millage rate, millage rate rollback and increase in taxes.
The Board will also consider:
- The use of insurance premium tax in the unincorporated area of White County and certification of pending appeals;
- Awarding the bid for one replacement extractor unit and one additional extractor for fire services;
- Awarding the bid for the triple surface treatment of Luke Road and Redd/Bolton Road; Approval of adding a fee to the White County Recreation Department fee schedule for elite team league basketball for the 2021-‘22 season; Awarding the contract for construction manager at risk for the White County Tax Commissioner’s Office renovation and expansion.
There will be a presentation of the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for excellence in financial reporting for the comprehensive annual financial report for the year ending June 30,2020.
Millage rate public hearing set Monday
News July 25, 2020
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners will hold the first of three millage rate public hearings and a called meeting on Monday (July 27) at 8 a.m. in the County Administration Building on Helen Hwy.
The Board will present the proposed millage rate then call for comments from the public in favor of or opposed to the proposed rate.
Commissioners are required to hold three public hearings this year. The second millage rate public hearing is scheduled for Monday (July 27) at 4:30 p.m. in the Administration Building. During the afternoon session, commissioners will consider:
Requests from the Sheriff’s Office, including six new vehicles, two ballistic shied panels for courthouse security, 24 laptops for patrol vehicles and approval of an IT position;
Approval of a contract with Southern Geotechnical Consultants for the 2020 road paving and rehabilitation project for construction materials testing and construction inspection services;
Approval of a contract with ACG Solutions for the county courthouse access control project;
A land use application filed by Joshua Wells to request a conditional use permit on 3.01 acres at 156 Bear Mountain Trail in Helen to be placed in the short-term rental program;
A land use application filed by Cleve McAfee to redistrict property on 8.77 acres at 4389 Hwy. 115 East in Cleveland from C-1 Community Commercial District to C-2 Highway Business with a conditional use for single-family residences;
A land use application filed by Steve Seabold for a conditional use permit on 1.73 acres at 5494 Hwy. 356 in Sautee Nacoochee to be placed in the short-term rental program;
A land use application filed by William Porter for a conditional use permit on 1.38 acres at 121 Laura Lane in Cleveland to be placed in the short-term rental program;
A land use application filed by Wendy Moses for a conditional use permit on one acre at 164 Pine Ridge Drive in Helen to be placed in the short-term rental program.
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