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.

Road Meeting

The Brantley County Commission & County Manager met with the county engineer, the county surveyor, representatives from the OREMC power company, the Brantley Telephone Company and others to review the current status of the many road paving projects that are being completed with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds from the current one cent sales tax collections. These funds can only be used for capital project (construction) for items that were chosen and approved by the voters on the referendum.

In the report, Mt. Calvary is nearing completion with only some work to be complete. Waynesville Road has been completed. Buster Walker road is being coated with soil cement now that the Georgia DOT has finally approved the clay - cement recipe. That concrete and coating will be completed in the next 2 weeks with Georgia DOT testing to take place as the cement behind the installers reaches
one week of age. Once GaDOT approves the hardness of the concrete, the surface treatment will be completed which will take another week. This should put Buster Walker at completion in late September.

The school crossing signs at the Atkinson Upper Elementary School were in place and flashing for the start of school last week. GaDOT is requiring the contractor to dress up a couple of items that should be finished soon but the sign is in place and working.

The team reviewed the preliminary work completed on some roads by the county surveyor. These will be reviewed by the County engineer. If no changes are needed, the Right of Way plats for property needed will be delivered to the County attorney for deed preparation. The first roads being reviewed include Raybon East, Saddle Club, Baker Creek, Britt Still and Knox Road. Others will follow.

Ronald E. Ham
Chairman - Brantley County Commission

Brantley County August 2011 Regular Meeting

Prior to the regular meeting of the Commission in August, a Public Hearing for the Comprehensive Plan/Short Term Work Program was held. The State requires one public hearing for public comment for the plan that was presented at the work session a week prior and made available for public comment.

In the August Regular Meeting of the Brantley County Commission, the Commission approved several items on the consent agenda which included:
• replacing Joe Dixon on the Planning Commission with Sydney Lee. Mr. Dixon’s term had expired and per the by-laws he has to come off for at least one term. The Commission expressed their gratitude for the excellent service that Joe has provided. He brought great balance of common sense and experience to the Board.
• approving a resolution supporting the local launch of a National Association of County Organizations' (NACO) supported Prescription Discount Card Program for Citizens. More information about this can be acquired from the County Commission office.
• approving the Solid Waste Management Plan.
• approving the appointment of Richard Thornton to the Regional Development Commission.
• allowing the Nahunta VFD to dispose of one inoperable fire truck.

The first item on the regular agenda was the Comprehensive Short-Term Work Program. This was the item discussed and provided for public comment in the public hearing prior to the Commission meeting. The resolution supporting the Program was approved by the Board.

A request from the Tax Assessor’s office to acquire $10,000 in additional part time service for the remainder of the year was placed on the agenda at Billy Lee’s request at the start of the meetings. Mr. Lee explained that with the new forms going out to over 13,000 individual property owners, the extra help was absolutely necessary in order to keep up with time lines required by the State and the County. The Tax Assessor’s office is fortunate enough to have a level II State certified property appraiser that had in depth knowledge of Brantley County. Where it is Mr. Lee’s hope that not all of these funds will be needed, he is budgeting for 24 hours per week for the remainder of the year. After significant discussion and debate, the Board approved the measure.

Finally the Commission discussed the resolution to create a County wide tax district in the unincorporated area of the County that would allow the levy of a $75 Road User Fee on all non-exempt parcels all pre-billed mobile homes. This fee and other changes had allowed the Commission to lower the County M&O millage rate by 15.11% this year to 17.36. This reduction would save citizens money on car tags, mobile home tags and timber sales. This fee would not generate “incremental revenue” for the County. The revenue that would have been generated through property taxes, car tags, mobile home tags and timber sales, would have been lowered and a $75 fee would have been added.

Last year, the County millage was 20.45 and the school millage was 13.53 for a total of 33.98. With the County Commission proposing to reduce the millage to 17.36 due to this shift in revenue from ad valorem taxes to the flat tax, this would have reduced the combined millage by 9.1%. So, if citizens add up all the taxes they pay for car–truck-trailer tags, mobile home stickers, property taxes and timber sales and multiply that number by 9.1%, that is what will be saved with the Commission’s proposal. Subtract the $75 road user fee (or fees if they own more than one parcel) and that is the “net savings”.

But, as many have said, nobody’s taxes are going down this year because the Board of Education is going up 32% or to at least 4 mills on their millage rate. That would put the combined millage for 2012 at 34.86 if the BOE was at 17.53 and the County was at 17.36. With 2011 combined millage at 33.98 and proposed 2012 at 34.86, property taxes, car tags, mobile home tags and timber taxes would still increase 0.88 mills or 2.5% plus folks would pay the additional $75 road user fee. That sounds pretty bad.

With this in mind, the County Commission is considering removing all the confusion and the new road user fee which has conspiracy theorists and some wishing to deflect from their own increases working over time. If the County Commission removed the road user fee from the current budget and placed that revenue back in the ad valorem tax line item, the County millage will come to around 20.35 mills, down slightly from last year. Should the School Board levy the 17.53 mills that they have approved at this point, that would create a combined 2012 millage of 37.88 or an increase of 3.9 mills or an 11.5% increase over 2011’s combined millage of 33.98 with no $75 user fee.

So, the 2012 proposals being discussed now from the county commission’s perspective:
1. Combined Millage 34.86, 2.5% increase due to BOE, plus County $75 user fee
2. Combined Millage 37.88, 11.5% increase due to BOE, no $75 user fee
The resolution agenda item was tabled, all scheduled County Budget Public Hearings have been cancelled and a called budget meeting for August the 18th is being scheduled to review the alternatives.

Brantley County August 2011 Work Session Meeting

In the August Work Session of the Brantley County Commission, the Commission heard from existing Insurance Broker Fred Walker regarding his service and he introduced a representative from United Health Care. She discussed the service that the County had been getting with UHC and answered questions regarding renewal rates.

The Commission next discussed the replacement of Joe Dixon on the Planning Commission. Sydney Lee had attended some of the meetings, according to the County Manager, and expressed an interest in serving. The Commission placed an item on the consent agenda to appoint Mr. Lee to replace Mr. Dixon.

Next, the County Clerk brought an opportunity to the Commission to support the local launch of a National Association of County Organizations’ (NACO) supported Prescription Discount Card Program for Citizens. The County would not participate in the program and there is no liability or responsibility for the program. The program claims to provide discounts of 24% and more. There is no charge for the program. The Commission placed an item on the consent agenda to approve the resolution supporting the program.

The County Manager presented the Comprehensive Short-Term Work Program. The Commission had a previous opportunity to provide input. A public hearing will be held prior to next week’s regular meeting for input and the item was placed on the regular agenda.

Next, the County Manager presented the Solid Waste Management Plan. After reviewing the plan, the Commission placed an item on the consent agenda to approve the resolution adopting the plan.

The Commission then reviewed a request for the Commission to forgive 2010 property taxes that were levied against a parcel that had been purchased by a non-profit organization, the Brantley County Civic Organization. The Commission does not have the ability to forgive the $121 in property taxes. The Commission can only forgive interest and penalties. After some discussion, the Commission took no action.
The Commission placed an item on the consent agenda to replace Mr. Marvin Peeples as one of the County’s representatives on the Regional Commission. Due to illness, he’s been unable to participate in the meetings for many months. An item was placed on the consent agenda to appoint the new Development Authority Executive Director to the position.

Next, the Commission discussed three garbage fee appeals from citizens that had not received service for some portion of the year. One had already been handled by the Code Enforcement department. The County Manager will review the others and report back at the regular meeting.

The Nahunta Volunteer Fire Department brought a request to surplus an old vehicle that can no longer be placed in service. All parts and equipment were salvaged from the vehicle. The Commission placed an item on the agenda to allow the surplus of the vehicle. Any item worth more than $500 has to be approved by the Commission.

The Commission discussed the resolution creating the $75 road user fee that will be placed on all non-exempt parcels in the County and all pre-billed mobile homes. A pre-billed mobile home is one that the resident owns but pays someone else for parking it on their property. This fee and other changes have allowed the Commission to lower the County M&O millage rate by 15.11% this year to 17.36. This will save citizens money on car tags, mobile home tags, timber sales and all other taxes that are calculated using the ad valorem tax. Where some real estate developers have complained about the fee, the reduction in the County millage will offset the $75 fee for most residents. This fee will not generate “incremental revenue” for the County. The revenue simply moves from the local effort or tax revenue to revenue from other sources like jail boarding fees, ambulance fees and other income items. For a complete review of the approved budget, visit the
County web site at www.BrantleyCounty.org.

Finally, Commissioners discussed overtime. Where this has been in check for some time, some departments are experiencing high overtime volumes that need to be monitored. Reports will be distributed to department heads and constitutional officers for their review.