The Ball Ground City Council has decided to leave its millage rate for 2010 right where it is, leading to a tax break for most people.

The council on Thursday night approved holding the millage rate steady at the current rate 5.194 mills.

The owner of a $200,000 house, with a standard $5,000 exemption, would continue to pay $389 in city taxes under the new rate.

If their property value declined by 8.35 percent, the county average, that homeowner would see a bill closer to $355.

The council could have raised the rate to the "revenue neutral rollback" level of 5.280 mills to compensate for decreasing property values, but opted not to do so.

City Manager Eric Wilmarth said as a result the city would lose out on about $5,000 in revenues, which would be covered by reserves.

"Our budget is tight. We don't have frivolous items," he said, noting the city government has been able to improve its cash position over the last year and could use those reserve funds to offset the difference. "We won't be looking for budget cuts to offset this."

Councilman Frank Homiller said he supported the rate staying steady as the city could function without a tax increase.

"To us, it is not a big portion of our budget," he said about the loss of property taxes.

Mayor Rick Roberts said keeping the lower millage rate is possible due to the work of city staff and the elected officials.

"We are very frugal," he said about city officials. "We operate the city with a small staff. We are not overstaffed."

Roberts said the perception from homeowners when you raise the millage rate is that you are raising their taxes. Roberts said that an additional $5,000 in property tax revenue "is not worth the negative perception."

Wilmarth said city leaders don't want to hit anyone with a tax increase during these times.

"We don't want that perception," he said. "We are not raising taxes in Ball Ground."