[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6217943,"mediaKeyId","3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6","parentId",3638075,"title","Statesboro moves an occupational-tax ordinance for attorneys to second reading after public hearing","audioSeconds",188,"startMs",1949000,"endMs",2137000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6&start=1949&end=2137","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6/thumbnail_1949000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6217943/Statesboro-City/Bulloch-County/Georgia/Statesboro-moves-an-occupational-tax-ordinance-for-attorneys-to-second-reading-after-public-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217943-4fe6d01557eb79b92512479cec1c7bdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208034&Signature=ekvsJu66yqqTY6FjCWzuWALwloFVIebeE9Pi~bgyhfl7WlCQeGJEVJGDAuSC~AWbX0qJES-e3PPyP8r6wpArMePdm4CH~JpXK3NNdlNRSuffpfv3XtsDQnOSoFOSeoRT8VsmPY7gHAauqSvBpxuDVXPf5aEl7MygdiWsE2ZQuGwgOE6PYfzVCljzHNxwtZyIhJWTgemWKqqfpsoHgoWJxQbv4J6~CO334u7kBnuPGvRsno310rjFZnlzIHe6ZZXT1U-krBj7L2aUp1y~ac1I9ujCKhA6HY5PCbbB9I0yO-aaI6DFWtQxt1mTCIvKIxTuooA1rUhnJ5axaHLG3RQHMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-03T20:28:06.037Z","article","The Statesboro City Council opened a public hearing June 3 and moved an ordinance amending the city code to a second reading that would allow collection of an occupational tax for attorneys if collected in arrears.

A staff presenter said the change follows Georgia Supreme Court guidance in the case identified in the packet as Moss v. Sydney Dunwoody and mirrors a Dunwoody ordinance that survived challenge. The presenter said the existing ordinance language had been found to create an unconstitutional condition related to the practice of law; the proposed revision would require the occupational tax for attorneys to be paid in arrears rather than as a condition of practicing.

The council opened the hearing, heard no speakers for or against the change, closed the hearing, and later moved the ordinance forward to a second reading; the transcript records the motions and voice votes. A council member asked to confirm that payment \"in arrears\" meant payment for a previous year and staff confirmed that interpretation, saying it would not require payment for a future year because that would be an unconstitutional condition.

The ordinance is listed in the agenda as Ordinance 2025-024 amending Statesboro Code of Ordinances section 18-105 regarding occupational taxes for attorneys. The transcript shows the council moved the item to second reading; final adoption and any effective date are not recorded in this meeting's transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","06 03 25 Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council opened and closed a public hearing and approved moving to second reading an ordinance revising Code of Ordinances section 18-105 to allow collection of occupational taxes for attorneys paid in arrears, citing state court guidance.","taxTitle","Statesboro City, Bulloch County, Georgia","taxId",51947,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6217948,"Statesboro to use $1.3M CHIP award with Habitat for Humanity to build nine homes on Pine Street; church donation recognized",531,3560000,4091000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6&start=3560&end=4091","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6/thumbnail_3560000.jpg","/articles/6217948/Statesboro-City/Bulloch-County/Georgia/Statesboro-to-use-13M-CHIP-award-with-Habitat-for-Humanity-to-build-nine-homes-on-Pine-Street-church-donation-recognized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217948-6461da88449e38631779da8a2815ebd9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208034&Signature=Of4uiSSBxKmpAoO0H1PKyo8H1bxhoq65dvilR7PVG8VIs~7cs2Y~omQ51ytVYKl6Y9uTwc8QuPNhAQidmfq96C57z9Jr6FulrYrZ~HtWq5biUO8NIr7XqQsv41ngcr8B7V730UugAbMQ9IYe5ZRr8U7XazFwjcFozEJGoM8LHTxnaagsIZvExKJGKgthMnCX8xXrFugu5E0Hz8UAELlutEjcduJ9UXdenKkibPrPRwSi5sfMqTWOpohMBz-M8fiwSgdrCCe~xViQLPXYoY8W9SJF6xcVJVVbq5rO4uQbPCeinh6HuCBF1eOLwONKvDzJgdQ9La16IjejZdICoWxMXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Statesboro staff and public commenters said the city has received a $1.3 million CHIP award for work in the Pine Street area that will support Habitat for Humanity in building or rehabilitating housing, with nine homes mentioned as project targets.

A city manager-level staff member told the council the dollar award and partnership with Habitat were steps toward producing more affordable housing in targeted neighborhoods. \"We've been working on CHIP and CDBG for six years now,\" the manager said, noting the $1,300,000 award in the Pine Street area to work with Habitat for Humanity and deliver nine homes.

During public comment, a speaker identified as a representative of Habitat (unnamed in the transcript) praised Agape Worship Center for donating land tied to the Pine Street project and characterized that donation as the single largest financial contribution to Habitat in the local program's history. The commenter said Agape will receive about 24% of the original investment back in terms of value made available for housing and thanked the congregation for its contribution.

Staff said the city used ARPA funds and other local resources in prior housing rehabilitation projects and that the CHIP award positions Statesboro to leverage additional grants and programs to expand homeownership and neighborhood rehabilitation. No formal council action on the CHIP award was recorded in the transcript at this meeting; staff described the award as part of ongoing capital and housing efforts.","City staff and public commenters described a $1.3 million CHIP award that will support housing rehabilitation and construction on Pine Street with Habitat for Humanity; a local congregation's land contribution was highlighted by a public commenter.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6217953,"Statesboro approves contracts to abate blight; asbestos testing and monitoring contracts cleared",111,2477000,2588000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6&start=2477&end=2588","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6/thumbnail_2477000.jpg","/articles/6217953/Statesboro-City/Bulloch-County/Georgia/Statesboro-approves-contracts-to-abate-blight-asbestos-testing-and-monitoring-contracts-cleared","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217953-d7a1cb1c37cfbb4a40bbfd0ffbc9c110/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208034&Signature=CXrGKUvSjsyzXmuB2CcoRnJLgNJzXq5X8Aa2T-E-KB~hcOQapfM5bRTIcBjvFoQZRuUQ~kuOV3StdkSpqFdFWWnrjTSLNlDz9~NPFs0CTQjVSdixRI1uF4e3r4Jn41Z2zUSCQPNZ6PUP17BHWEjREcUFD~LKVpL3Rx-ZsVbTDcvTRar7HpdzqGdl479flYCe4fQvo8qNPjvqxQq2YgMAiKIfFxbksaPUIIn9WgNIOcFf-~aVdsLsoY5L-m2U53bWmSijvYqC9bd7jFZPmkbR2vmzPfaCnsVsG1dmIB5ZkFaYOx3sGeEQ--UdFuJd13HgZ538ZVEnarFbaZsZF20DgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Statesboro approved contracts June 3 to move forward on demolition and code-compliance work for properties on the city's demolition list, including asbestos testing and abatement at an old nursing-home property and a broader monitoring/cleanup contract for multiple structures.

Staff described a required asbestos survey and mitigation before demolition at 31 Lovett Street, calling it an \"eyesore\" and citing public-health concerns. The low responsive bid for asbestos mitigation was about $70,000, and staff recommended approving that contract so demolition could proceed.

The council recorded support for moving ahead. One council member said the structure had been a health hazard and an eyesore for some time and thanked staff for persistence; the transcript records a voice vote with members responding \"Aye\" to approve the contract.

Staff also presented a separate contract with J JRD LLC to monitor and address multiple structures on the city demolition list; staff said the contract would include removal of the Lovett property and additional properties needing cleanup or rehabilitation. The code-compliance effort, staff said, seeks both demolition of hazardous structures and rehabilitation where feasible.

The contracts are intended to remove hazards and improve neighborhoods while staff continue to coordinate rehabilitation efforts for salvageable historic properties. The transcript shows routine council approval by voice vote; detailed line-item contract amounts beyond the asbestos bid were not listed in the public transcript.","Council approved contracts to test and abate asbestos and to monitor and remove multiple demolition-list structures, citing public health, safety and neighborhood rehabilitation goals.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6217958,"Statesboro seeks nearly $450,000 state road grant, would pair funds with local TSPLOST to expand work",68,2142000,2210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6&start=2142&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6/thumbnail_2142000.jpg","/articles/6217958/Statesboro-City/Bulloch-County/Georgia/Statesboro-seeks-nearly-450000-state-road-grant-would-pair-funds-with-local-TSPLOST-to-expand-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217958-fc9511d35db37e10ac4d56dd27259a04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208034&Signature=ZtkrKUojip8Oqiu59FrtaHFqFYW6nLAqf2ouyX6vHMjiKQmzSVxh~c7s63xeuU9Gny-i7uukWmyJKX5nbWMbzf14ZAi-5578e5KoQ9VrEUFDjwDnUtYoTqwK24ZWTYoxissvo-kJKvs-2zCVEMZmoIYh7NjFK6LFliYZqiPzhk2jhCcYyM3WvvNHsOryLki3MnvPszL8gjHBZTb5Q-eFnfW7U03iu8gyQb-xKeB5~JdUeSaFC57yahWQn6VL5c9DN5ow99xbNePo0aHXH1wGZ8QtAzZFj~jv1vOeCAYwyXO-UNcsSyctLuABhNDRhJ-MWLxP9PU-6Ic2hy0Tjzcmug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Statesboro staff presented a resolution June 3 to amend the FY2025 street and services program and authorize a Local Road Assistance Grant application worth roughly $450,000, recommending the council approve pairing the state grant with local TSPLOST-set-aside funds to expand road work.

A staff presenter recommended approval, saying the grant would increase the dollars available for streets from roughly $1.3 million to about $1.8 million by leveraging the state award with about $1 million that the city has been setting aside from its TSPLOST proceeds. \"Instead of spending $1,300,000 on road, we'll be able to spend almost $2,000,000, 1 point 8 million dollars,\" the presenter said.

The resolution before council would authorize the mayor to execute the grant application and amend the capital-improvement item cited in the packet. The staff memo noted no local matching funds are required for this grant. Council discussion recorded in the transcript focused on scope and staff recommendation; the transcript does not record a formal roll-call vote on the resolution at this meeting.

If the city is awarded the grant and amends its street program, the additional funding would be used to expand planned capital street improvements in FY2025. Staff said the city has been setting aside about $1 million per year from TSPLOST to pair with state funding when available.

The transcript identifies this as agenda item 7; staff recommended approval and advised that the mayor would be authorized to sign the application documents.","Council packet includes a resolution authorizing application for a Local Road Assistance Grant of roughly $450,000; staff proposed pairing the grant with TSPLOST set-asides to increase total roadway spending to about $1.8 million on the street program.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6217962,"Statesboro officials outline FY2026 budget with fee increases, enterprise loans to cover fire service gap",961,151000,1112000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6&start=151&end=1112","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638075-95ffce1746e1eba691de851fda4f01f6/thumbnail_151000.jpg","/articles/6217962/Statesboro-City/Bulloch-County/Georgia/Statesboro-officials-outline-FY2026-budget-with-fee-increases-enterprise-loans-to-cover-fire-service-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217962-839fbd61d849cc4853584412e2040b04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208034&Signature=UTQmEY4stRV7EXXazZVX8yWDi9AhveEnZvmlKVU0pZ~1hsgZaPO4rHWDAlYPHFn83saXKYP4j2gfQlvdqvDVIFiVSD5VXpiFIiWMR~RdtA5X5TBvRn4rNqXpwBAXVPEov~jFa06Yb1S7JDhRveCpnIVqVkTrAo6vZtuNzCz7p4ZztGTXdyLhgalSk~smpFzmqr7JyPZmSf-Krkpr2-wC9U437gA-lZxyPkix9dezWvJ4Q~eC1sGJEok1hSN3K0asgyDm4MsO82ADaAiJyu1O2qCo1y9Xt2WRfFa1BAghCLTYPeVsioHioIA6ptVQInLRIVsn5Gbzib7RlzYhgNV4BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Statesboro City staff presented a proposed FY2026 budget June 3 that would hold staffing levels steady while recommending fee increases across utilities and a one-time interfund loan to cover a shortfall in the fire service fund.

At a public hearing, a staff presenter identified as Mister Finney said the budget represents a roughly 6% total decrease from FY2025 driven largely by the expiration of about $9 million in ARPA funds used in the prior year. \"We recommend a pay plan adjustment...the 4% pay adjustment to our pay plan,\" Finney said, adding that the budget includes multiple recommended fee increases, most at about 10 percent, for convenience fees, water and sewer rates, stormwater, solid waste collection and disposal, police extra-duty fees and certain construction fees.

The budget matters because it affects utility customers, property owners and the city's ability to maintain reserves. Finney told the council staff used a 12% property tax digest growth estimate in revenue projections and said the city will use $928,007.55 of general fund balance to balance the FY2026 budget while aiming to preserve a council policy target of a 25% fund balance.

The proposed package includes a 4% pay adjustment recommended by an outside pay consultant and pay-for-performance funding; Finney noted no department head staffing increases are included. He called out infrastructure and utilities as areas of emphasis and outlined that the sewer fund will be sized to repay large capital debt if the council proceeds with a planned 4 million-gallon-per-day package plan, which he estimated could cost $80 million to $100 million and require annual debt service of $5 million to $6 million over roughly 20 years.

On the fire service budget, Finney said the loss of a fire district tax created a large gap. His recommended short-term response is a one-time loan from enterprise funds to the fire fund, to be repaid over 10 years: $1.8 million from the natural-gas fund, $680,000 from another enterprise, and $707,000 from the solid-waste collection fund. \"You can only do this one time,\" he said, calling the measure a short-term fix while the city evaluates longer-term options, including a consultant study of a possible fire fee that the council will receive at a future work session.

Council members asked questions about the fund-balance level and growth assumptions. Finney said the general fund balance was \"about 30%\" in the current year and reiterated caution about relying on interest earnings to balance budgets, noting recent interest income used in prior budgets would decline if rates fall. Council members also discussed the city's anticipated development pipeline: Finney and others said staff are tracking roughly 4,500 proposed housing units citywide, about 2,500 of which could begin construction soon, and that large individual permit valuations have already raised the tax digest for the current fiscal year.

Mayor and council members emphasized the tradeoffs of growth and the need to protect existing residents while expanding the tax base. One council member praised staff for \"a creative solution to dealing with the lawsuit of the fire district\" and urged continued care for residents amid development. The council opened and closed the public hearing on the FY2026 budget; the transcript does not record final adoption of the budget at this meeting.

If approved later, the measures in the proposed budget would change several user fees, increase pay across the pay plan by 4% and authorize the proposed interfund loan to the fire fund. The city will return to the council for formal adoption at a later date and for any resolutions required should the fund balance dip below the council's 25% target.

Details: the staff presentation listed a recommended 10% increase for many fees, a 4% pay plan adjustment, use of $928,007.55 from the general fund to balance FY2026, a fire fund budget of $8,036,930 and planning for long-term sewer debt service estimated at $5 million to $6 million per year if a $80\u0010$100 million project proceeds.","City staff presented the proposed FY2026 budget at a June 3 public hearing, recommending fee increases across utilities and a one-time interfund loan to cover a shortfall in the fire service fund while keeping the city's 25% fund-balance target in sight.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Statesboro moves an occupational-tax ordinance for attorneys to second reading after public hearing

Statesboro to use $1.3M CHIP award with Habitat for Humanity to build nine homes on Pine Street; church donation recognized

Statesboro approves contracts to abate blight; asbestos testing and monitoring contracts cleared

Statesboro seeks nearly $450,000 state road grant, would pair funds with local TSPLOST to expand work

Statesboro officials outline FY2026 budget with fee increases, enterprise loans to cover fire service gap