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Gordon County expresses intent to keep millage at 9.042; adopts amended financial policies and several contracts
Summary
County staff recommended a higher millage to avoid an estimated $834,000 shortfall, but commissioners voted to propose keeping the millage at 9.042; the board also adopted amended financial policies (raising bid threshold) and approved multiple supplemental agreements and contracts.
County staff presented fiscal options tied to the 2024 tax digest and recommended a higher millage if the board wanted to avoid dipping into reserves. County staff explained that keeping the millage at 9.042 would create an estimated $834,000 shortfall under current budget assumptions, while a rate of 9.346 was projected to balance the budget without using reserves. Staff gave example tax impacts: on a $200,000 homestead property, the county-only tax difference between the two scenarios was described in the packet (staff framed increases in per-year dollars for homestead and non-homestead examples).
After discussion, a commissioner moved and a second was made to propose keeping the millage at 9.042; the motion carried by voice/roll-call. Administrator Ledbetter had characterized the two options and staff’s recommendation during the administrative report but the board chose to express intent to hold the millage at the lower rate; staff indicated there will be three public hearings in September before the board sets the final millage.
The board also approved amendments to the Gordon County financial policies to increase the minimum competitive-bid threshold from $20,000 to $40,000; purchases under that threshold will still require three written quotes and county board approval. Finance staff said this will reduce the administrative burden of processing small-dollar competitive bids.
Other approvals included the ACCG safety-discount program (risk-management participation expected to generate insurance premium discounts and an intended purchase of an AED for the senior center), a budgeted software agreement with CivicPlus for records and request management, declaration of a 2005 Ford vehicle as surplus (proceeds to sheriff's forfeiture account), and several annual supplemental agreements with local nonprofits and school systems (Child Abuse Prevention Gordon County Inc. $5,000; Hand Up Inc. $9,919; Calhoun Gordon Arts Council $5,000; Winners Club $4,550; Gordon County Schools $34,125; Calhoun City Schools $34,125). A scope-of-work contract for a temporary board build-out from Moment Construction for $29,125 (SPLOST funds) was also approved.
Commissioners closed the meeting with an adjournment motion.
