Camden County officials signal intent to set rollback millage rate after hearing heavy public opposition to proposed increase

Several Camden County commissioners said they intend to set the rollback millage rate at the county's Oct. 7 meeting after a lengthy public hearing in which dozens of residents urged the board to reject a tentatively advertised countywide rate of 14.1 mills and an advertised unincorporated rate of 2.6 mills.

Nancy Clark Gonzales, the county's chief financial officer, told the board a 10-year snapshot showed the county's net digest rose from about $1.25 billion in 2016 to $2.44 billion in 2025 and that the countywide rollback rate for tax year 2025 would be 11.929 mills (compared with last year's rate of about 12.10). She described the rollback as "the rate that needs to be taxed to give the county the same revenue that they received in the prior year," and said the unincorporated rollback is 1.123 mills.

Why it matters: Gonzales said the advertised increase was intended to support several capital priorities the county has discussed, including a proposed 300-bed jail (estimated at $50 million), a $3 million animal shelter, additional Joint Development Authority (JDA) funding and the county's planned takeover of parks maintenance in the unincorporated areas. Gonzalez told the board the proposed tax increase would generate reserves of roughly $3.5 million to reduce bonding needs; after accounting for SPLOST and other assumptions, she said the remaining borrowing need for the jail would be roughly $32.5 million and that the combined bond for the jail and shelter was estimated at about $35.5 million.

Board position and next steps: The chair asked each commissioner for their intent for the Oct. 7 meeting. "My intent was never to go with the full 18.2% countywide millage rate," the chair said, later stating an intent to adopt the rollback rate. Commissioner Robbie Cheek told the meeting he planned to set the millage at the rollback rate, and Commissioner Smith likewise said his intent was to take the rollback. Commissioner Turner said he would support the rollback. Commissioner Goodman said he had not decided and wanted to hear public comments before making up his mind. The board did not take a formal vote; the statements were recorded as intent for the upcoming meeting.

Public reaction: Dozens of residents urged commissioners to reject any millage increase, saying rising property assessments have already pushed many households' tax bills upward and that a further rate increase would harm retirees and low-income families. Speakers criticized the county for perceived lack of transparency, questioned the scale and timing of a new jail and other projects, and called for more detailed studies, audits and engagement prior to approving a rate change. As one resident said, "Camden County does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem." (Jacqueline Guy, resident).

Selected details and figures presented at the hearing:

- Countywide net digest: $1.25 billion (2016) to $2.44 billion (2025) (about a 95% increase).

- Unincorporated net digest: $397 million (2016) to $657 million (2025) (about a 65% increase).

- Countywide rollback rate (tax year 2025): 11.929 mills; advertised (tentative) countywide rate: 14.1 mills; last year's rate about 12.10 mills.

- Unincorporated rollback rate: 1.123 mills; advertised unincorporated rate: 2.6 mills.

- Fund balance policy: the county aims to maintain about 25% of the general fund budget as savings (roughly three months of operations), the CFO said, citing emergency needs such as storms and self-insured health claims.

- Project cost notes: a 300-bed jail estimated at $50 million; a $3 million animal shelter; parks maintenance costs funded from the unincorporated tax district with estimated year-one costs of $977,000 and year-two costs falling to about $538,000; JDA additional requested funding up to $1.25 million with multi-year draft intergovernmental agreement showing funding in FY27 through FY30.

- Financing assumptions: CFO presented an example amortization (20 years at 5% as an illustration) producing an estimated annual general fund payment of roughly $2.8 million for a $35.5 million bond, but emphasized the figures were estimates and subject to change based on financing and SPLOST receipts.

Staff follow-up and records: CFO Nancy Clark Gonzales told the public that the FY25 audit is in progress, that field auditors will perform fieldwork in November and that state law requires audits be submitted by Dec. 31; finalized audits and budgets are posted on the county finance page when filed.

What was not decided: No formal millage rate vote occurred at the hearing. The board recorded multiple commissioners' stated intents to set the rollback rate at the Oct. 7 meeting but the matter remains on the agenda for that date; Commissioner Goodman said he would decide after hearing public comment.

Public comments (verbatim samples):

- "I'm against any tax increase." (Ricky Manning, resident)

- "Camden County does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem." (Jacqueline Guy, resident)

- "For fiscal year '25 ... the rollback rate is 11.929" (Nancy Clark Gonzales, chief financial officer)

What to watch: The board's formal millage-setting action at the Oct. 7 meeting (whether the rollback rate is adopted), any publication of the county's jail study or financing plan, the FY25 audit once finalized, and any subsequent work sessions the commission schedules to refine project scopes and budgets.

Ending: Commissioners closed the public hearing after several hours of testimony; staff said posted budget documents and the forthcoming audit will be available online. The formal millage-setting action remains scheduled for Oct. 7, when the board will need to vote to adopt final rates or take other action.