Tax increase adopted in Forsyth

County property taxes will be increasing following a recent 3-2 vote by county commissioners approving the measure. Commissioners David Richard and Linda Ledbetter voted against.

The county Maintenance and Operation rate remains at 3.834. The Fire rate remains at 1.765.

The Bond rate is 1.196 mills, up from 0.446 mills in 2007. This represents a total millage increase of 0.75 mills.

The increase in the Bond property tax rate is due to the approval of the $100 million parks, recreation and green space bond measure approved by voters in February. The county intends to issue these bonds in September or October.

Some local residents addressed commissioners Aug. 21 to express their concern over county expenditures and raising taxes during this slow economy. One such resident was Cumming Mayor Ford Gravitt.

"I am in opposition to any tax increase," he said. "During the last 10 years, we've had an average growth in the tax digest of over a billion dollars a year. I don't see how the county couldn't tighten their belts like everyone else."

Gravitt said local residents could be facing additional taxes from the schools and a potential new county detention center that will be placed before voters this November.

"You are throwing around tens of millions of dollars like it's nothing," he said. "I believe the jail should have been funded by SPLOST. I wish we could consider not raising taxes and think about saving money instead."

However, Commissioner Jim Harrell said the county has spent tax dollars exactly the way voters have asked.

"SPLOST 6 was about transportation," he said. "We heard that need from voters loud and clear. People said they were not interested in paying for a jail. We have nothing to do with the school tax. The only increase in the millage rate is the one approved by voters."

But Richard said the growth in the tax digest without lowering taxes "is considered an increase."

Richard said the county needed to "tighten its belts" and should review its budget procedures.

"I don't think we've looked hard enough last year at cutting areas we could cut," he said. "We should be approving the increase in the bond rate, but we should be also lowering the county millage rate to start saving tax dollars."

Richard said some county departments have not cooperated in making necessary cuts.

"I hope we take a hatchet rather than a surgical knife to some of these departments that are not playing ball the way they should," he said.

The Board of Commissioners held three public hearings to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions regarding the increase.
- www.northfulton.com

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