07.21 Ledger 01 - The Cherokee Ledger-News

4 THE CHEROKEE LEDGER-NEWS NEWS JULY 21, 2010
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County rolling up its millage rate
BY CAROLYN MATHEWS
carolynmathews@ledgernews.com
Cherokee County, like the school
district, is considering raising its
millage rate, but both higher rates,
if approved, will not result in most
citizens paying more taxes. That is
because county property value is
down because of the recession.
In order to make up for a smaller
revenue stream, the county government
is considering “rolling
up” its millage, in order to collect
for its coffers this year the same
amount of estimated revenue as it
had in 2009.
“This is actually a roll-up,” said
County Manager Jerry Cooper.
“Normally there would be inflation
of the digest, and if we didn’t
roll back the rate, taxes would go
up, but property values have decreased
8 percent.”
Cooper said commissioners tentatively
plan to set the county portion
of the millage rate at 8.313
mills, from 7.703 mills. The higher
rate includes 4.729 for the general
fund, up from 4.381 mills, 2.956 for
the fire district fund, up from 2.742;
and .628 for the parks bond fund; up
from .580.
The net general fund digest
dropped to $7.6 billion this year
from $8.3 billion in 2009. The fire digest
is $5.7 billion this year, compared
to $6.2 billion last year.
The millage rate hike does not
legally require public hearings because
the new rate is not above the
“rollback” rate.
“We’re doing it anyway,
to be transparent
and open to the general
public,” Cooper
said. One public hearing
was held on July
20 at 6 p.m.; the other
is set for July 29 at the
6 p.m. county Board of
Commissioners Meet-
Cooper
ing, at the Cherokee County Administration
Building and Conference
Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway,
in Canton.
The millage rate is scheduled to
be approved at the meeting.
One mill equals $1 for every
$1,000 of assessed value. Property
in Georgia is taxed at 40 percent of
assessed value, after exemptions.
County Chief Assessor John
Adams said the millage rate will
not have an effect on property owners
whose property went down in
value at least 8 percent.
For a homeowner with a $200,000
home that has not changed at all in
appraised value, taxes would go up
a little less than $50 annually under
the new county portion of the millage.
This takes into account taxes on
$80,000 in assessed value, less a
$5,000 county exemption.
He said that of the 94,000 vacant
and improved parcels in the county,
82,000 went down in value some
amount.
“The overall digest went down
more than 8 percent,” Adams said.
“This is a roll-up to a revenue neutral
point.”
Adams noted that the school district
portion of the county property
tax bill is slated to go up one mill,
from 18.65 to 19.65, subject to school
board approval July 28. However,
that millage is not even up to the
school district’s rollback rate,
which is 20.155. The school district
digest went down 10 percent, because
those 62 and older can apply
for and receive a school tax exemption
that for the most part negates
school taxes.
School district millage is capped
at 20 mills without voter approval.
County spends $1.7M for aquatic land
BY CAROLYN MATHEWS
carolynmathews@ledgernews.com
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners,
using park bond money, has purchased land for a
county aquatic center, which could have as many as
three pools, near the geographic center of the county.
At the July 6 meeting, the commission unanimously
approved the purchase of 37.65 acres for $1.73 million,
at Gresham Mill Parkway and Sixes Road, just
west of the Sixes Road Interstate 575 exit, in order to
build the aquatic center along with adjacent city
parkland, from MBC Partners.
Post 4 Commissioner Derek Good made the motion
to approve the purchase, saying “We have worked on
this for eight years.”
An initial assessment of the land shows that there
is room enough to grade 10 to 12 acres flat to place the
aquatic center. A road is paved to the property
boundary, and the seller plans to transfer $82,500 to
the county prior to closing for use by the county for
road improvements. Some sort of commercial development
will likely be located in front of the aquatic
center, fronting on Sixes Road.
“An outlet mall was being considered there, but I
believe they are looking at the Ridgewalk interchange
area now,” Post 1 Commissioner Harry Johnston
said.
In the request for proposals for the swim center,
County Manager Jerry Cooper will include asking
for a consultant at the beginning of the process so
that the county knows what it needs to build.
While the land and the construction of the $10.2
million facility will be paid for out of the parks bond
proceeds, the county will have to figure out how to
fund operating costs through use fees at the pools.
SEE AQUATIC, PAGE 15