Floyd County to hold public hearing Tuesday on 2024 property tax rate
The Floyd County Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing Tuesday on the proposed property tax rate for 2024. The board is advertising a return to 9.414 mills, following a slight decrease last year.
Commissioners agreed to advertise an increase of 0.75 mills, up 8.7% from 2023, although they could opt to set a lower rate when the time comes to vote.
Officials said a shortfall in tax collections for last year accounts for almost all of a $3.6 million deficit that needs to be made up. However, other factors also are in play.
The local tax cut in 2023 also came with a one-time increase in the homestead exemption by the state, further reducing revenue. But property values overall are up an average of 8.5%, which will generally increase tax bills even if the millage rate is unchanged. However, the county also has an aggressive construction program underway and is fully staffed, which led to the adoption of a $77 million budget in January, up from $68 million in 2023.
Commissioners are scheduled to caucus at 4 p.m. for a closed session to discuss property acquisition, litigation and personnel. The board’s regular meeting and budget hearing are set to start at 6 p.m. Both sessions are in the County Administration Building, 12 E. Fourth Ave.
The rest of the agenda is fairly light. A proposal for Historic Courthouse exterior renovations from E Dunay Design in the amount of $56,800 is the sole action item up for discussion.
The 2017 special purpose, local option sales tax package contained $5 million to repair and restore the leaking and moldy historic courthouse on North Fifth Avenue. Collections for the 5-year, $63.8 million 2017 SPLOST package started April 1, 2019, and ended March 31.
Under the noncontroversial consent agenda, the board is expected to approve the Floyd County Police Department’s plans to use Apple Developer Program for the new FCPD app. The aim is to help communication between parents and students and the school resource officers. Police Chief Mark Wallace has said they will use Redspeed traffic camera fines to pay the start-up cost of about $16,380 and the $6,500 annual maintenance fees.
The board also is expected to sign off on a letter of support for a Releaf Grant application with the Georgia Tree Council for Alto Park. The federal program would make funding available for tree-plantings at no cost to the county.