Tonight’s Mayor and Commission meeting will likely affect homeowners' property taxes over the next year.
Athens-Clarke County Commissioners will review two competing versions of fiscal year 2024’s budget -- both of which reduce the county’s millage rate, impacting homeowners’ property taxes.
One of those budgets, backed by District 6’s Jesse Houle and recently by District 8’s Carol Myers, reduces the millage rate by 0.3 mils. An alternative budget, backed by District 10’s Mike Hamby, reduces the rate by 0.75 mils. While that difference may seem insignificant, a 1 mil adjustment causes roughly $6,540,000 in revenue loss or gain.
By lowering the millage rate, some homeowners may pay lower property taxes -- which supporters say will alleviate the stress of skyrocketing property values. Those pushing for a more conservative change argue that a reduced rate will negatively impact funding for other services provided by ACC.
Houle said in an interview with WUGA that ACC may be finding its millage reduction limit.
Besides cutting the millage rate, commissioners will consider expanding funding for county inmate healthcare, firefighter/emergency medical technicians (EMTs) ladder trucks, increasing salaries for county employees, along with numerous other items. Tonight’s voting meeting follows a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights Public Hearing. All members of the public are invited to comment.