HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-07-2018 scm-pm City Council of Peachtree City
Special Called Meeting Minutes
August 7, 2018
6:30 p.m.
The Mayor and Council of Peachtree City met in a special called meeting on Thursday, August 7,
2018, at City Hall. Mayor Vanessa Fleisch called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Other Council
Members attending: Terry Ernst, Mike King, Kevin Madden, and Phil Prebor.
The purpose of the special called meeting was to hold a public hearing on the 2018 millage rate.
Mayor Fleisch opened the public hearing.
Financial Services Director Paul Salvatore said the operations & maintenance (M&O) millage rate
would stay at 6.232 mills, and the bond millage rate would be reduced from 0.273 mills to 0.176
mills. The total millage rate would be reduced from 6.505 to 6.408.
Salvatore continued that, despite the reduced millage rate increase, the proposed millage was
considered a tax increase due to the increase in the assessed value of properties. The total
increase in all net digest values was 4.17% (real and motor vehicle property); however, the
average increase in assessed values of real property in the City for 2018 was 4.99%.
To give an idea of the impact, Salvatore said the tax bill for a $200,000 home would increase by
$8.80 for the 6.232 M&O millage rate, but decrease due to the bond millage rate 0.176 mills, or
$7.76. The net result would be a$1.04 increase in the tax bill for a$200,000 property. He continued
that the net increase $1.56 for a $300,000 property, $1.82 for a $350,000 property, and $2.08 for a
$400,000 property.
Salvatore then reviewed the net digest values over the past several years as they rebounded from
the recession, increasing from just over$1.9 billion in 2009 to over$2.3 billion in 2018. He also noted
that there had been a 12.5%increase the previous year, and the City had rolled back the tax rate
by about 0.5 mills to eliminate the tax increase.
A chart provided by City Manager Jon Rorie that showed the fiscal impact that rolling back the
M&O millage would have on the General Fund. A decrease of 0.25 mills would save the owner of
$200,000 property about $20, but would reduce General Fund Revenues by $578,000.
Resident Eric lmker addressed Council, reiterating his comments from the morning meeting that
the City should look at lowering the millage rate below 6 mills to attract businesses, noting that
Roswell (5.455 mills) and Alpharetta (5.75 mills)had lower rates and were drawing business. Imker
said that Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenues were coming in higher than expected,
and those funds could be used for paving so the millage could be rolled back next year. He said
Peachtree City residents should have some of the tax burden shifted to industries.
No action by Council was required.
There being no further business, King moved to adjourn the meeting. Ernst seconded. Motion
carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
AS
Bets T er,
Betsy City 1:40anessa Fleisch, Mayor