County taxes could jump 48%

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County taxes could jump 48%

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Top Stories & Breaking News

Saturday, May 21. 2011

Comments (19)

Based on budget talks this week, there is no doubt that the county’s property tax rate will rise in October. The only question is by how much.

On the table is the possibility of a rate hike of up to 5 mills, which would be a 48-percent rate hike for properties everywhere but in Winder, where due to the annual rollback for the city’s separate fire tax, the county rate would jump as much as 62 percent.

Because the tax hike would apply only to the county government’s operations, entire tax bills would not increase by those percentages. The effect of a 5-mill increase would be $200 in higher taxes for every $100,000 of a property’s value.

CFO Rose Kissalita told the Barrow County Board of Commissioners at a called budget meeting Tuesday that she now expects the funding gap for fiscal year 2012 to be more than $5.7 million. Her projection is based on $33.7 million in anticipated expenses and $27.9 million in anticipated revenues.

While spending cuts now under discussion could fill some of that, that alone would not be enough.

Last fall, the BOC raised the millage rate by 1 point, but called it “revenue-neutral” because it was designed to make up only the loss from lower property values.

This time, even if property values drop as expected, the rate hike would not be revenue neutral.

For the full story, see the May 18 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Jacquelin Twiss on 05/21/11 at 12:17 PM [Reply]

What people are failing to realize -- The BOC HAD an out. They HAD a way of covering the debt coming due. It was HB240.

HB 240 would allow counties and cities to abandon a SPLOST project because it is infeasible. Infeasible means that the project has become impracticable, unserviceable, unrealistic, or otherwise not in the best
interest of the citizens. The revenue from the abandoned project must be used either for property tax rollback or to reduce debt. An infeasible project must go to referendum for approval of the modified purpose.

The problem in Barrow County?

Citizens have to vote on a referendum to allow the abandonment of a project and the reallocation of SPLOST funds --- AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY ARE VOTING TO KEEP OR DITCH THE EXISTING SPLOST TAX! They (the BOC) knew (or
should have known) about HB240.

I voted NO on the SPLOST renewal. Had the citizens not voted to renew the SPLOST tax, the BOC could have had another vote which included the referendum to reallocate the money to existing debt. There are no "do overs" for referendums that pass!

Had the BOC done their homework, they would have known this and not held the election until after HB240 was signed into law by Governor Deal.

They have known the debts were coming due. They had all the information needed to make a decision in the best interest of the citizens of Barrow County, but as par for the course, they have let us down.

Looks like our county attorney/county manager isn’t as sharp as she and the BOC thinks.

Fiscal responsibility is more than just voting “NO” on a tax increase, its managing existing debt and looking into the future and not just at next month’s revenue.

Due to the actions of the BOC we are now facing the possibility of a 48% tax increase.

#1.1 mark my words on 05/23/11 at 06:57 AM [Reply]

Thank you very much Jacquelin! You are 100% correct and the sad fact is that, once again, our commissioners have let us down.

How is it that not one of them, or anyone in their offices knew, or cared enough to make any effort to at least postpone the vote?

I've read all the posts on this page and "Citizen", it's people like you that would not be missed, because it's people like you that missed the opportunity to do something constructive instead of just throwing rocks as usual.

#2 Robert on 05/21/11 at 08:49 PM [Reply]

Yea! Since your schools suck, my kids went out of county. Now that you have deemed my property isn't worth what the debt is, you want to raise the taxes on said property so I can continue to pay for your underacheiving, sorry education system. You now have given me every reason I need to leave, Barrow County, the armpit of Georgia!

#2.1 Citizen on 05/21/11 at 09:30 PM [Reply]

U-Haul is ready when u r, Bobby! U won't be missed.

#2.1.1 Robert on 05/22/11 at 05:51 AM [Reply]

You are the one of the buzzards that eats the carcass from the roads. Anyone who feels the need to defend such a dump is a loser.

#2.1.1.1 Citizen on 05/22/11 at 08:54 AM [Reply]

Hey, Bobby, I would be oh so happy to compare my net worth to yours. Anytime, buddy boy. Then, we see who is the "loser." (We already know who the whining quitter is.)

#2.1.1.1.1 Not from here on 05/22/11 at 09:13 PM [Reply]

What a whimpy comeback! Why is it guys go to their `money' or `valuables' when their insecurity is attacked. `I make more money than you'! REALLY? So do f-ing drug dealers you idiot! Does that make them valuable people. What a stupid man!!!

#2.1.2 I'm selling out too on 05/22/11 at 06:05 AM [Reply]

You must be one of the `educators' defending your overpaid position.

#2.1.2.1 Citizen on 05/22/11 at 09:12 AM [Reply]

"must be . . . " Would you care to make a small wager on your ignorant allegation? You "must" be another resident that Barrow county can spare. I know I won't miss you.

#2.2 Jacquelin Twiss on 05/22/11 at 07:15 AM [Reply]

Robert, county tax (millage rate) and school tax (millage rate) are two separate taxes.

Currently the school millage rate is 18.5
The county millage rate is 13.274 with a 2.936 sales tax credit or 10.338 millage rate. The sales credit could go up, could go down, so think of it as a bonus.

When the county raises their millage rate, none of the extra money goes to the schools. It all goes to the county.

What REALLY FROST MY COOKIES is:

THE BOC AND CHAIRMAN HAD A WAY OUT. HB240!

HB240 was designed to help counties like Barrow that had HUGH debt, HUGH SPLOST funds, and declining property values.

NOT ONE, not one member of our current BOC members bothered to do their homework. NOT ONE!!! And the citizens of Barrow are going to pay for it.

The BOC is in a position where they are forced to either raise taxes, BIG TIME, or cut services BIG TIME. Services are already bare bones.

#2.2.1 r on 05/22/11 at 06:26 PM [Reply]

Jacquelin, where were you with your righteous indignation when this was originally discussed. I mean, I hate hindsight, however for you to bash them after the fact isn't real forward thinking.

If you want to be portrayed as wise and all-knowing, at least be productive enough to do it before the fact, not after.

#2.2.1.1 Anonymous on 05/22/11 at 09:07 PM [Reply]

When was the last time you attended a BOC meeting? I know Ms. Twiss did, until she stopped for personal reasons. I hope her health allows her to run in 2012. And since she's blogging, I would say she's feeling better!

You go girl-friend!

#2.2.2 Robert on 05/22/11 at 09:18 PM [Reply]

Thanks, Jacquelin!

If you are planning to stay in the backward county known as Barrow, perhaps you should consider getting involved in their political agenda and help to bring them out of the dark ages.

#2.2.2.1 Jason on 05/27/11 at 11:50 AM [Reply]

She has tried and, thankfully, failed miserably. I for one question her motives, based on her comments and the news articles about her.

#3 Wow on 05/23/11 at 12:18 PM [Reply]

Wow, how about cutting out some of the crap that we don't need in this county. Oh wait that would mean Jud Smith couldn't have all his buddies working for him and all his little toys. Never Mind

#4 Sid on 05/24/11 at 11:44 AM [Reply]

Time to vote the carpetbaggers OUT!!!!

This is the citizens of barrow counties fault...if you VOTE LIKE PEASANTS YOU DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE PEASANTS!

VOTE THEM OUT!

#5 Anonymous on 05/24/11 at 11:47 AM [Reply]

The person that uses 'BUDDY BOY' in her comments must be over 80 years old id wager...i see her comments on this site a lot...usually in support of any kind of taxes or political board in Barrow...which tells me this is probably a life long barrow county employee...and someone who has gotten quite fat and rich off of our tax dollars.

Vote these good'ol boy, podunk, senior citizens OUT!! They are incompetent and truly feel that they are the ELITE that RULE this county.

#6 John Wages on 05/24/11 at 10:38 PM [Reply]

I watched Laurel and Hardy when I was a kid and.......Another fine mess you've gotten us into.

#7 DuWayne R. Anderson on 05/27/11 at 09:28 AM [Reply]

As a pro Education advocate, I take strong exception to overturning the approved SPLOST votes, and use the money to bail out county government. This is the "easy way" out, and takes little thought to accomplish.
Those in this county who did vote for SPLOST recgognized that there was a real need and voted for those needs.Disregarding their votes and reasons for supporting SPOLST is not a positive effort. Perhaps the BOC understood that, while others on this site do not.
DuWayne

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