“Residents should understand that any discussion of a property tax increase comes out of a growing necessity and not by choice,” Heiskell said. “I understand fully the difficulty that many residents are having trying to make ends meet these days.”
The proposed increase would amount to a half-mil increase on property owners, which translates to about 50 cents on every $1,000 of assessed value on property.
Chief financial officer Greg McConnell equated the total as being about a $20 per year increase on the tax bill of a county resident owning a $100,000 home in the unincorporated area of the county.
Three public hearings will be held to give a public a comment period on the proposed tax increase. These would occur Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in her office in LaFayette, with an additional meeting to follow Friday, July 23, at 10 a.m. also in her office.
Heiskell said of the amount being considered, “This is a drastic reduction of what I am actually being asked from various departments as they are beginning to calculate their upcoming budgets.”
Currently Walker County Government operates on an annual budget of about $18.7 million. McConnell said the half-mil would increase the budget to almost $19.4 million or about $700,000 in additional revenue.
Walker County’s decision to consider a property tax increase is occurring at a time when other surrounding governments such as the city of Chattanooga and Catoosa County are considering similar increases.
Asked about the necessity of the property tax increase Heiskell explained, “One of the largest problems we are currently facing is funding for the 911 Center. In the past, local residents paid a fee on their home phone bills when they used landlines to cover the operating expenditures for the 911 service. However, now that many households are utilizing cell phone service that fee is becoming increasingly difficult to collect. This is causing a large operating deficit for the service.”
In addition, McConnell said that many department budgets were also looking for increases but were unlikely to be funded.
“The bottom line is that costs are continually rising while tax collections are declining,” McConnell said. “This increase will help keep the county level as far as operating capital is concerned.”
Heiskell added, “The proposed increase will not be used to provide for any COLA (cost of living allowances) expenditures for county employees.”
County employees also did not receive cost-of-living raises last year because of budget concerns according to McConnell.
The proposed millage increase would carry the unincorporated areas of Walker County from 4.418 to 4.918. The incorporated millage rate would also increase from 6.761 to 7.196.
McConnell said the modest increase would continue to keep the county tax rate as being one of the lowest in the state.
“By my estimates, this increase would place us as the fourth lowest in the state for property tax rates within the unincorporated areas of Georgia,” McConnell said.
There has not been a property tax increase imposed on Walker County residents for county government by Heiskell within the last three years. Heiskell rolled back property tax rates during those three years.
This quote by Bebe is wrong. Check your cell phone bill. Just like a landline bill, you pay a 911 charge. I checked mine yesterday, to verify and then asked my cell provider. Yes, we pay the 911 fee and the cell company forwards that money to the county. So, Bebe, just where is that money going? Perhaps we need to go back to the county commissioner's office releasing quarterly reports in the Messenger, so the ordinary citizens funding your paycheck can see how our money is spent. Walker County is not the office of the president of the United States. We cannot afford for you to spend 40%, twice the previous average, so you can purchase land that requires more money to develop.
Property Taxes will be cut public hearing set for Friday.
In the last several years large land parcels have been divided off and as subdivisions and are bringing in more tax revenue to the county than ever. The tax base for the county is now higher than anytime in history and yet someone either can't manage the money or there wants are far above their amount of income. It is simple math cut bonuses and put a stop the buddy biding system that takes place.
An politician knows raising taxes before election time is vote for anyone but an incumbent.
This sole commissioner business has gone on long enough. It is time for a county commission, to provide checks and balances.