Budget Hearing

The Brantley County Commission met Thursday to review the revenue and expense budget for next year. The Chairman recommended to the Commission that they remove the road “user fee” or flat tax that had been previously adopted at $75. By removing that fee on every non-exempt parcel and pre-bill mobile home, the Commission simply moved the revenue of $996,000 from the fee from that revenue line item to the ad valorem tax revenue line item. The Commission agreed to do this. Once the revenue from car tags, mobile home tags and timber taxes was increased as the ad valorem tax rate used to calculate those taxes was increased, this set a millage rate of 20.34 down from the 20.45 millage rate for the previous year. The Commission voted 5-0 in support of the revenue changes.

The County Commission reconsidered the new road user fee due to confusion over the user fee and concerns over voters coming out against the SPLOST that is up for renewal this fall. The SPLOST isn’t a new tax, it is an extension of the same penny that is collected today that has paved over 13 miles of road, produced the new recreation park and made jail payments of $648,000 per year on the $8.5 million jail facility. There were also concerns that the increase that the BOE was discussing will cause a significant tax increase that would wipe out any savings for tax payers that could be generated by the levy of the proposed road user fee.

The changes recommended by the Chairman, which were consistent with a request from Sheriff Robert Thomas, also included the removal of three new deputies, their cars and benefits from the Sheriff’s department budget. The Sheriff’s overtime budget was placed at $125,000 which was $30,000 less than requested and consistent with historical levels. Finally, the two security officers were placed back in the courthouse budget to provide security and protect the courts and Tax Commissioner and Tax Collector from unruly patrons that have been on the rise in recent years. New security cameras have proven helpful but in a real emergency, they would only provide a good picture of the assailant.

In discussion, one Commissioner expressed serious concerns about the Commission being blamed for overtime in the Sheriff’s Department due to fact that they would not increase the number of deputies. Other Commissioners supported the request from the Sheriff and stated that where the Commission could lower the funds for overtime, only the Sheriff and Chief Deputy have immediate administrative control over the overtime in that department consistent with all other County departments and constitutional officers. There were also concerns about the courthouse security officers having spare time on their hands at the courthouse on days when Probate, Magistrate, Juvenile, Superior Court or Tax Appeal hearings are not in session or during major payment collection periods for mobile homes in the Spring, Ad Valorem taxes in the Fall and car tags daily. From discussions with the Sheriff, the Chairman explained that the deputies will be monitored at the courthouse and should they have idle time, they will be assigned to other duties but will be available to return to the courthouse when called. The Commission voted 3-1 in favor of the recommendation with the Chairman also supporting the objective.

Finally, the Chairman recommended that the Commission revisit the fire tax. Originally the fire tax for one fire district had been increased to 1.9 mills. With some changes in the loan structure on fire substations and vehicles, the Commission was able to keep the Hortense fire tax millage at 1.25 as well. So there were NO TAXES INCREASED by the County Commission this year and NO NEW USER FEES levied.

Immediately after the County Commission met, the Brantley County Board of Education met and raised their ad valorem tax by 38% or 5 mills from 13.53 mills to 18.53 mills. With the County Commission setting their millage at 20.34 and the Board of Education setting their millage at 18.53 the combined millage rate will equal 38.87 or 13% higher than last year due to the BOE increase of 5 mills.