The Commerce City Council is considering a property tax hike to balance its budget and rebuild reserves in the face of declining utility revenue.
In a budget work session Thursday night, the city council appeared to have a consensus to raise its property tax rates by a half mill to three-quarters of a mill.
To the owner of property valued at $100,000, the tax increase would amount to $30 to $45 per year.
That consensus is subject to change by the next time the city council meets at its June 7 work session. Presumably, it will pass a final budget a week later at its regular meeting.
The tax hike would be in addition to eliminating three full-time positions, reducing four jobs to part-time, halving its travel costs, establishing a handling fee for bills paid by credit card, increasing revenue expectations from sales taxes and possibly moving its municipal court out of the Jackson County Courthouse.
As the work session opened, city manager Clarence Bryant said he and accounting manager James Wascher had reduced the deficit from $461,000 to $123,413.
That was accomplished through the staff reductions. Bryant proposed and the council accepted three further steps — establishing a fee for the convenience of credit card payments (generating around $35,000 to cover the charges assessed the city for credit card use), moving the city court out of the courthouse to the civic center ($12,000 annual savings), and consolidating animal control services with the Public Works Department . Those moves could reduce the revenue gap to the $30,000 range.
But the council is troubled by implications beyond the upcoming fiscal year. Having exhausted most of its reserves and expecting little improvement in revenue for some time, the council turned toward property taxes.
“This year is going to be easy compared to the next two,” predicted councilman Clark Hill. “Next year we’re not going to have all of these reserves we’re drawing on (this year) to balance the budget.”
If there was a consensus for upping property taxes - which for more than a decade have been the lowest in Jackson County - there was little enthusiasm.
“No one wants to levy a tax,” observed Mayor Charles L. Hardy Jr. “When we go to three mills people will say you’ve doubled our taxes. We’ve prided ourselves for being the cheapest in Jackson County for the past 12-15 years ...”
The budget scenario calls for three employees’ hours to be cut from 40 hours a week to 32 and another from 40 to 30.
Also, I have a question. If the animal control is moved to public works, will he be able to enforce any "laws" such as leash laws or anything pertaining to that matter if he is no longer attached to the police department? Or Are they just going to "lay off" Mr. Ben (as we all know him from school crossing). Is he still going to do the job or is public works? I guess we can wait and see if we get as superior of a response from public works as Mr. Ben. Besides, I would love to see some of those public work guy's work school crossing and not cause an accident “gazing” at some mom dropping off her children. Haven't we already had an adequate amount of "sexual harassment" within the city employee's already? Maybe someone can answer some of my questions. Thanks and I look forward to the answers...lol
I have lived here for six years and despite a deep recession, have seen my property tax bill hiked for five of those years. Especially, by a substantial amount last year with the elimination of the Georgia Homestead Exemption.
This is in addition to constantly increasing utility rates.
And now, as usual, they come crying for even more.
Take a walk around town and notice the ever increasing amount of abandoned homes for sale.
Our property values have plummet.
Despite this, our illustrious City Manager and Council are once again attempting to squeeze more unearned dollars out of us.
Furthermore, while walking around, talk to the folks who live here and listen to their comments about all the local job losses and cuts, including city employees.
Were told that we have one of the lowest tax rates in the county. If so, why are you attempting to put us at the other end of the spectrum?
Sure guys, Why not, Go ahead and stick it to us again.
The Officers handled anything that was illegal-eg:drugs, robberies,etc. and did a very good job. What is this "Forensic Tech"? Do they do anything special that an Officer can't do? What is this---CSI?
If the City wants to save money---then cut the fat and save the lean.Begin with cutting the top paid employees salaries --or eliminate their jobs and hire someone for a lower salary. I am sure that with the employment situation the way it is there are some people out there that is qualified to do the same job for less pay.(and may do it better)and be glad to get the job.
Why not take a public citizen poll-let the citizens submit their opinions and ideas as how they would like to see things done. Who knows-maybe there will be some great ideas that would help save the City some money and tax payers too.
No wonder our young are Graduating and leaving.I have never seen so many vacant homes or business buildings sitting empty in the years I have lived here.
Wake up, stupid. There's a recession. There are more empty houses and stores EVERYWHERE. Even Tanger has vacancies. The Pottery closed, the sporting goods store is gone. Is that Commerce's fault too? Or Banks County's? Drive all over Northeast Georgia and you'll see more of the same thing.
Maybe it's all your fault.