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Glynn County holds public hearing on 2024 millage; officials keep M&O rate at 3.864 mills, residents raise appraisal and fairness concerns
Summary
Glynn County staff presented a proposal to keep the county M&O millage at 3.864 mills, saying not rolling back the rate will yield about $580,000 in additional general-fund revenue. During the public hearing, residents alleged appraisal errors, selective tax treatment and questioned corporate tax incentives; the board took no formal millage vote and adjourned.
Glynn County officials hosted a public hearing on the proposed 2024 millage rate during a special call meeting, with county finance staff saying the county will propose keeping its maintenance-and-operations (M&O) millage at 3.864 mills while higher assessment values mean the county will collect more revenue overall.
Mary Munson, the county’s chief financial officer, walked commissioners and the public through the millage-adoption timeline and the mechanics of property taxation, saying the county’s computed rollback rate was 3.705 mills and that choosing not to roll back would result in roughly $580,000 in additional general-fund revenue for the year. Munson also described the county’s revenue mix, the role of restricted funds and a $30,000,000 emergency reserve the county keeps for storm response and recovery.
"Our proposed rate is 3.864 mills," Munson said during the presentation. She emphasized that the county was not increasing its millage rate from last year but that rising property values can produce higher tax bills even when the rate remains unchanged.
Several residents used the public comment period to press county officials on appraisal practices and budget priorities. Ron Lewis, a property owner, said he lost an administrative appeal after receiving an unexpected tax bill and alleged that the assessor’s office sent erroneous notices in 2023. "I lost my appeal," Lewis said, adding that he has filed a lawsuit in superior court and would provide the board with correspondence from the assessor’s office and county attorneys.
The presiding official told Lewis the county could not discuss pending litigation at the hearing but offered to accept his materials after the meeting.
Julia G. Cotter questioned the fairness of local tax policy amid what she said are state-level surpluses, criticized planned one-time outlays and capital projects at a time of high consumer prices, and urged action on corporate tax incentives that she said shift more of the tax burden onto residents. Cotter named national retailers as examples and pressed commissioners to coordinate with state officials on incentives.
County leaders declined to alter the millage during the special call. No formal vote to set the millage was recorded in the meeting minutes; after public comment the board approved a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Rafalski moved to adjourn and Commissioner Sweatt seconded; the presiding official declared the motion unanimous.
Next steps: the county’s millage-adoption process continues under the statutorily required timeline for hearings and notices. County staff and the board did not announce a final millage vote during this meeting; members and the public were advised to follow future posted agendas for final action.
