During a recent government meeting, Deputy Finance Officer Angela Jackson presented the proposed millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year, marking the fifth hearing on the matter. The need for additional hearings arose due to issues with the size of the original advertisements in the Clayton News, necessitating a redo despite no changes in the proposed millage information.

The proposed millage rate remains at 18.5 mills, an increase from last year's rate of 16 mills. This adjustment is being advertised as a 31% increase over the rollback rate, although officials clarified that this does not equate to a 31% increase in taxes. For homeowners, the average property value in Clayton is estimated at $250,000, which translates to an annual tax increase of approximately $261.54, or about $21.80 per month.

The meeting highlighted significant financial challenges faced by the county, including a decrease in revenue from public utility taxes, which dropped from $15.1 million to $7 million. Additionally, the total requested expenses from various departments amounted to $383.7 million, while forecasted revenue was only $284 million, resulting in a budget shortfall of $99 million. To address these financial constraints, departmental budgets were reduced by $66.8 million.

The millage calendar includes hearings scheduled for September 5 at 11 AM and 6 PM, with a third hearing on September 17 at 6 PM, followed by the adoption of the millage on September 18 at 11 AM. The discussions underscored the impact of new legislative mandates, including the establishment of a new ethics board and salary increases for certain elected officials, which further complicated the county's financial landscape.