Proposed county tax increase now at 4.35 mills
- 6/15/11
- Categorized in: DeKalb News
DeKalb County taxpayers are facing a possible $93 property tax increase if DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis’ recently proposed tax increase is approved by the Board of Commissioners.
Based on a recommendation by Ellis, the board voted on June 14 to advertise a millage rate increase of up to 4.5 mills. Although Ellis’ latest budget proposal requires a 4.35-mill increase, the 4.5 mills would give the commissioners flexibility if they decided the amount was needed in the county’s final budget. Based on a 4.5-mill increase, an average home valued at $155,700 would pay $672 in county property taxes.
Ellis said the increase is needed to offset the county’s first quarter budget overruns and lower-than-expected property values. According to the county’s tax digest, property values in DeKalb decreased 13.4 percent in 2011. In unincorporated areas the decline was 18 percent.
Ellis said his goal was to present a sustainable budget for public safety, the criminal justice system and the funding of infrastructure. He also wanted to take action to restore the county’s credit rating, which has declined in the past few months.
The proposal contained a recommendation to close five recreation centers, close the tax commissioner’s satellite offices and eliminate funding for the cooperative extension service. All of these proposals, made in the CEO’s original 2011 budget, were rejected by the Board of Commissioners earlier this year. Now they are on the table again.
These cuts would save the county $469,000.
Ellis also recommended eliminating three paid holidays for county employees, which would save $1.8 million, and abolishing 250 vacant positions at a savings next year of $12.5 million.
According to Ellis’ proposal, the county’s administration is already implementing several cost-saving initiatives, including plans to outsource animal control services and emergency transport services. The county is also considering operating its tennis centers and golf course without current subsidies.
Commissioner Lee May, chairman of the board’s finance committee, said he was not expecting a proposal for a 4.35 mill increase. In December 2010, Ellis’ original budget proposal included a 2.32-mill increase to cover a $33.6 million budget gap. The anticipated deficit is now $55.6 million.
“That’s a huge increase,” May said.
May said Ellis’ approach to closing the budgetary gap flawed.
“His approach has been …we’re going to close this gap by raising taxes,” May said. “My personal approach to this is …let’s look at where we can become more efficient, let’s look at where we can reduce service levels and reduce staffing levels first without shutting our government down. And then let’s see where that gap is.”
Three public hearings on the tax increase are planned: two on July 5 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and one on July 12, the county’s deadline for adopting millage rates.
Can you get me facts and figures on how our tax dollars are wasted in the school system? The school board is not outside our reach as we band together to express our freedom of speech.
Lane
I looking for Dekalb citizens who want to do more than complain indivdually about the many problems in Dekalb County. If you want to join a large effective group to fight the wrongs, email me at support@fortheuderdog.com.
Lane
Talk to me about your complaints. I learned a method to beat Dekalb County in 2001 and change a law and I know that we as Dekalb residents can do it again. Email me.
Lane
You sound helpless in the face of your discoveries of the waste in the recreational centers and golf courses. Fortheunderdog.com was originally created out of a fight with Dekalb County which we won and changed the law. If you want to DO something about Dekalb County, I want to talk to you.
Lane
It would be very helpful for me to know exactly which "useless and wasteful departments" they are of which you speak. Thanks,
Lane
Places that I can not afford to eat at and The Board of Carpetbaggers have meals catered in to their sorry selves at my expense and I am a Senior Citizen who has been disabled for years and they STOLE FROM ME = MR DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROBERT JAMES = NOW GET UP OFF YOUR HIND LEGS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!
And the Green Space Land Deals = Mr District Attorney = Hello !!! Have you read a paper lately !
And how about the dozens of Citizens that were not allowed to speak at the last BOC meeting on all days Flag Day ! Do you and Chief Judge Cynthia Becker remember the day YOU SWORE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THESE UNITED STATES ??? Well my copy says that Right to Freedom to Speech is still protected = EXCEPT IN DEKALB COUNTY !
And Commissioner Jeff Raider wants to pay 1.9 MILLION DOLLARS FOR land on LaVista Rd for a Park ! A Park that we can not afford the upkeep on or have the Police to Patrol ?
How about Jeff Raider, your Developer Buddy gets the New Tax Appraisaland Tax Bill for 1.9 Milliom this week instead of the 400 thousand he's been paying !
Demand an audit of Lands in Districts 1 & 2 of DeKalb County and lets find out how many other Developers are "hooked up" ?
And now the cat is surely out of the bag with the knowledge of our Elitist Self-Promoting Self-Serving DeKalb Board of Commissioners having Lush Expensive Meal Catered in all at TAX PAYERS EXPENSE !!!
Some one call the DeKalb District Attorney and wake him up ! He must be a sound sleeper ???
Perhaps we can get Gwinett District Attorney Danny Porter to come in and give Robert James the Class 101 - County Commissioners Can Not Be Trusted Buying Land Course !