[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6187926,"mediaKeyId","5064184-047eff7250637496f0b41611473597e8","parentId",5064184,"title","Commissioners approve SPLOST intergovernmental agreement, mutual aid and other county contracts","audioSeconds",243,"startMs",2674000,"endMs",2917000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064184-047eff7250637496f0b41611473597e8&start=2674&end=2917","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064184-047eff7250637496f0b41611473597e8/thumbnail_2674000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6187926/Georgia/Commissioners-approve-SPLOST-intergovernmental-agreement-mutual-aid-and-other-county-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187926-ad42301e163e594072f79c8cc7a906ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659421&Signature=G6zIpwk40rGx47b7sZgoDbyLmkAssmYKPaKzxhQRUKAP2RcU2xcgER3ZAcdI8pWQg9fHYY2Qp9-y-2v-2qw~QcystzzPV80XDBHuYeld62AD-rZUgvJ~TQypgdzugugarzGymCMemBzg9ZJChK-Eg22jXHURpQiCN5xeP7t9-qYhoazeMbvBwrN~72OdARoBqYcMhNoxObW2HyAbkmQw1w~qGp9FsLbAE5DWGdPcJV1Jy-XMHsaMNrnVT85DZxrtr1vE0tM41iyN9BJcrPLrxjO6vL80lN2FUb2gQ5~Swvh9RX4xBErymlOa0rETcp7uRJZGo9K9o1CaKkXyv4P9CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-25T10:59:34Z","article","The Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved several agreements, contract renewals and a vehicle repair quote during the meeting.

SPLOST intergovernmental agreement and election steps
The board approved a resolution authorizing execution of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Stephens County and the cities of Toccoa, Martin and Avalon governing the use and distribution of proceeds from a 2025 special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for capital outlay projects. County staff said the three cities approved the IGA at their meetings the previous week; the county will issue a resolution at its next meeting to call the SPLOST election in November.

Mutual aid and regional agreements
The board approved an automatic and mutual aid agreement with Franklin County for fire protection services to allow automatic responses across the shared line; staff said the arrangement will help response coverage and may reduce insurance premiums for residents on both sides of the boundary.

Judicial circuit and hazard mitigation
Commissioners approved an amended intergovernmental agreement for payment of Mountain Judicial Circuit expenses with neighboring counties to align the agreement with county fiscal years. They also approved a second amendment to the county’s hazard mitigation plan agreement with the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission to extend deadlines while FEMA completes review.

Contracts and purchases
The board approved a Motorola maintenance service renewal for the county’s 9‑1‑1 system; minutes record one opposed vote on that renewal. The board also approved a vendor quote of $28,040.48 from Lake Hartwell Chevrolet for a new engine for a 2021 ambulance; EMS Director Brian Bennett was present for questions.

What the board said
County staff framed the SPLOST IGA as a necessary step to finalize how proceeds will be allocated if voters approve the tax; staff said the IGA will detail allocations and that city councils had already approved the agreement. On mutual aid, staff said the automatic aid will benefit local response times and assist Franklin County residents by potentially lowering their insurance premiums.

Next steps
Staff will execute the approved IGAs and renewals and, as noted, will present a resolution at the next meeting to call the SPLOST election for November.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6.24.2025 Stephens County Board of Commissioners Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","The Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental SPLOST agreement with the cities of Toccoa, Martin and Avalon, a mutual aid fire agreement with Franklin County, several intergovernmental amendments and a Motorola maintenance renewal, and authorized an ambulance engine repair purchase.","taxTitle","Stephens County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",56360,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6187931,"Commissioners approve rezoning and variance in land‑use hearing",51,2324000,2375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064184-047eff7250637496f0b41611473597e8&start=2324&end=2375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064184-047eff7250637496f0b41611473597e8/thumbnail_2324000.jpg","/articles/6187931/Georgia/Commissioners-approve-rezoning-and-variance-in-landuse-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187931-d451545d00ba170199cb9401faacbcbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659421&Signature=j3t~vAGkeF0a9rEpXYeW3DfNCgf4zi23TOsCNTJ4SjtrRTgX1MUXzB3MZsHmGErW9xJ9mXLE7EsxjtzhAvSs0LW~V7a0ww5LV-CVJyi6ps9AQO9BlemKZuHFLmTo3qtHz8uMxIxO3tsRB5f-Wq41l8K3NFBV-z61qIgq55Av~5GIF8aa3BRdTKtl2N7sjD5DgN7Vp3uh~HMPTl60Xa8A3GQTvn1b3AkEEZFOCJtokR6ngaImbv2AMZ4yFczOHTTNhzgU1LzuWjENJELgtI4XbjTXgVG-YsHsr~qPAp3UWevZccHev2D0SeZPuGq6tIJP-usuI5RerKiWrkH6jKAeGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the land‑use public hearing the Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved two planning items recommended by the planning commission: a rezoning request and a variance.

The board considered a rezoning request from a property owner on Mies Road (Parcel 033012) to rezone a parcel from Residential Single to Commercial General for use as a storefront beauty shop; the planning commission recommended approval. The board voted to approve the rezoning as presented.

The board also considered a variance request for Parcel 066B008 to allow an additional fourth home to be served from an existing easement. The planning commission recommended approving the variance as requested, and the board approved it.

Both items were presented during the land‑use public hearing and carried without recorded opposition at the hearing.

No additional conditions or amendments were recorded in the meeting minutes.","Stephens County commissioners approved a rezoning to Commercial General for a storefront beauty shop and granted a variance to allow a fourth home off an existing easement, following planning commission recommendations to approve both items.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6187936,"Stephens County adopts $41.6 million FY2026 budget after public hearing; M&O millage kept at 10.38",2222,88000,2310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064184-047eff7250637496f0b41611473597e8&start=88&end=2310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064184-047eff7250637496f0b41611473597e8/thumbnail_88000.jpg","/articles/6187936/Georgia/Stephens-County-adopts-416-million-FY2026-budget-after-public-hearing-MO-millage-kept-at-1038","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187936-7a6e0c437dead1b8f5b68b9b0e02d067/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659421&Signature=kMXnd~aIAQgySPdo3uI11Rf92kVn5Jc00tqDA9WXwNONz7fPXhcn91g6UhiR8J~uZ4nsCjN1tHa01EW3aqaUMWGh-fI-Puogk2xmk6CLlAOiisyJXFh3z4h5ZVbPrULfxgk37NvyWgypdi0ZechOlsO1BkGN8qvHLYH5d8Jl687jhXfsIUBfefcbAN8DZrys0tLjO0Ti2ovSFzGeON400cF-MhsxxI74Oe4N8JsbSUhq6MQheEutxfF1B18C~MVYSzxOZrDEUCyVYyabdNYeSbP6YZaN4mNj~iLVxDELKqJlLyyJmvpfLkP-dgsGm5FEkck2eXhApo45qv6VEUsakQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stephens County Board of Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2026 government‑wide operating budget and authorized the chairman to sign the adopting resolution after a public hearing in which residents raised questions about rising assessments, exemptions and the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).

County staff presented the proposed FY2026 government‑wide budget at $41,623,134, a 3.15% increase over fiscal year 2025. The proposal includes an unincorporated maintenance and operations (M&O) millage rate of 10.38 mills, unchanged from FY2025, and a projected net millage of 13.96 mills (a 0.38‑mill decrease from last year). County finance director James Elrod was present for questions from the commission.

Why it matters: The budget funds essential services including EMS, volunteer fire, 9‑1‑1 and emergency management, the court system and the sheriff’s office. County staff told the board the increase is driven primarily by higher health insurance, liability insurance and workers' compensation costs and by costs for essential public safety services.

Board and staff details
County staff explained that the FY2026 general fund is proposed at $23,313,121, a 5.52% increase over FY2025. The budget assumes a roughly 3% performance pay increase for most employees and that the county will cover 98% of employee‑only group health insurance costs for the single plan option. The county plans for 208 approved full‑time positions in FY2026, one fewer than the current fiscal year. Revenue projections include a 1% estimated uncollected rate for property taxes and a projected 5.97% increase in local option sales tax receipts. Building permit revenues were projected to rise about 38.46% and recreation revenues about 8.89%.

Public comments
Several residents spoke during the hearing, raising questions about assessed values, the rollback/advertised tax increase, exemptions and the county’s use of SPLOST funds.
Sherry Jeffers, who gave her address as 126 Holiness Church Road in Toccoa, said, “I can't see any reason why I would not be for the budget,” and praised the commissioners' work. She asked about unpaid utility collections referenced by staff and about the effect of House Bill 581 on homestead assessments.

Resident AJ Paplaczek said some residents are confused by the interaction of rising assessed values and a lower millage rate, asking the commission to clarify that reducing the millage while values rise can leave tax bills unchanged: “When the millage rate comes down, the valuation of the property goes up. ... I don't like to use the term smoke and mirrors, but a lot of people are confused by that.”

Richard Santiago, a resident who spoke later, urged the commission to consider sharper millage reductions to offset higher assessed values, saying the county should avoid causing residents to skip medicines or other essentials. Gerald Turner and other speakers urged the county to consider selling unused properties and to keep taxes as low as possible for seniors and long‑term residents.

Clarifications from staff and other officials
County staff and other officials explained roles and processes during the hearing. One staff member emphasized that the Board of Assessors sets assessed valuations and that the commission does not directly set those values; the board of equalization and the county assessor participate in establishing assessment levels. Staff also noted that the insurance premium rollback (2.23 mills) and the sales tax rollback (4.02 mills) were included in calculating the advertised tax change. Staff said the value of a mill for the digest is projected at $906,224, reflecting about a 15.7% increase in the net digest.

Decision and next steps
After the public hearing the board voted to adopt the FY2026 budget and authorized the chairman to sign the resolution. The board also noted it must advertise a tax increase under Georgia law because it did not provide a full rollback of the M&O millage despite an overall lower millage rate and an increased digest.

Budgetary details and limits
The board emphasized revenue projections were conservative and included contingencies: capital projects funding of $1,090,631, a capital contingency of $150,000, and general contingencies of $200,000. The solid waste enterprise fund was budgeted at $705,262, with substantial transfers from the general fund. The county expects continued SPLOST receipts and plans to use those funds for referendum‑approved purposes, including county roads.","After a public hearing with multiple residents raising concerns about property assessments and exemptions, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners adopted a $41,623,134 government‑wide fiscal year 2026 budget and held the unincorporated maintenance and operations millage at 10.38 mills.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve SPLOST intergovernmental agreement, mutual aid and other county contracts

Commissioners approve rezoning and variance in land‑use hearing

Stephens County adopts $41.6 million FY2026 budget after public hearing; M&O millage kept at 10.38