By Ashley Hungerford
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
The Acworth Board of Alderman unanimously voted to maintain the city's millage rate after considering a property tax increase.
After three public hearings, the Board voted on Monday to keep the 7.60 mills for the 2008 budget.
This means property owners will continue to pay $7.60 per $1,000 of assessed property values.
The city had advertised increasing the millage rate to 7.95 mills, and then staff recommended only increasing the millage rate to 7.86 mills.
"Throughout the whole process, the mayor and board were very aware of the strain the economy had on our citizens, like $4 a gallon for gas," Mayor Tommy Allegood said. "We were committed to make the necessary adjustments in the budget to hold the millage rate at the same 7.60 mills that we adopted in 2007."
In July 2007, the Board was able to reduce the city's millage rate from 7.688 mills to 7.6 mills.
City Manager Brian Bulthuis previously said staff recommended an increase in the millage rate this year because revenues were not covering all the increased costs the city was incurring, specifically rising fuel prices.
To end the year with a balanced budget, the city will need to use about $100,000 in surplus from the 2007 budget. The city also will use about $180,000 in tax revenue generated from Acworth's tax allocation district.
The Cobb County Tax Commissioner collects the city's property taxes. Bills are sent in August and are due Oct. 15. The 7.60 mills approved by the Board will apply to the property tax bills Acworth residents receive this August.
Allegood said the city was able to rework the budget as to not make any cuts, but several future projects could be put on the backburner.
Alderman Bob Weatherford said he was glad the city approved the same millage rate this year.
"Originally I was a proponent for increasing it slightly because of rising fuel cost, but in the last revision we got everything in line," he said.
Two projects Weatherford said he would like for the city to still consider this year are a redevelopment study for about 40 acres on the north side of the railroad, and implementing a take-home car program for the police department. He said the take-home car program would help in the retention of officers.
Allegood said the two projects are something the Board needs to discuss as they begin preparing next year's budget in October. The city's fiscal year begins Jan. 1.
But by maintain the same millage rate, Allegood said the city will have to "work diligently" to find ways to cut costs in next year's budget.
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