Commissioners Set Millage Rate at 8.138

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Attorney Joey Homans

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners set the 2018 millage rate at 8.138 mils Thursday, resulting in a 4.45 percent increase in property taxes.

The new rate will increase the taxes on a home with a fair market value of $250,000 by $34.70. Taxes on a non-homestead property valued at $200,000 will increase by approximately $27.76. The board’s action followed one public hearing on Aug. 10 and two on Thursday.

The only Dawson County resident to speak Thursday was Walden Sheriff, who was opposed to the increase.

After the millage rate was approved unanimously, the board opened a public hearing on the FY 2018 budget.

Commissioner Chris Gaines read a list of proposed reductions and increases that he said would have the overall effect of reducing the general fund budget by $291,609.

The largest reduction proposed was elimination of a 2 percent salary increase for county employees which would result in a savings of $294,540. Employees received one pay increase as a result of the wage and salary study earlier this year. Commissioners unanimously agreed to forego their own pay raise which was scheduled to take effect in January.

The proposed budget has drawn some opposition from Sheriff Jeff Johnson.

Former Dawson County Attorney Joey Homans, appeared on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office and stated that “The sheriff can’t provide law enforcement for the citizens of the county on the budget that is proposed.”

Homans pointed out that a Georgia Sheriff’s Association report in 2015 stated that the sheriff’s office was deficient. He also pointed to tremendous growth along the Ga. Hwy. 400 corridor and major residential growth planned by the City of Dawsonville as events that place increased demands on law enforcement.

Homans said Sheriff Jeff Johnson would like to work with commissioners to resolve the issue and he requested the board schedule an additional budget hearing one week before the budget is adopted.

Commissioners approved the purchase of a 50-foot battery-operated, trailer-mounted boom through a federal contract with GSA at a cost of $35,662.72.

The board also agreed to move forward with replacement of Black’s Mill Bridge, a single-lane bridge that has been closed and can’t be repaired. Public Works and the Purchasing Department will bring cost analysis back to the board for its consideration.

 

 

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