Cusseta–Chattahoochee commission recommends 9.504 proposed millage rate; hearings rescheduled

The Commission of the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County voted Sept. 2 to recommend a proposed millage rate of 9.504 mills, an increase of 1.25 mills from the previous rate of 8.254. Commissioner Jason Frost moved the recommendation and Commissioner Damon Hoyte seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

County Manager Thomas Weaver told the commission the recommended change would raise property-tax bills modestly: for a homestead property with a fair-market value of $100,000, the commission estimated roughly a $50-per-year increase; on a $50,000 non‑homestead parcel the estimate was about $25 per year. Weaver said the county is following the required public‑hearing schedule and that advertising requirements for the hearings had prompted a rescheduling. "The Department of Revenue will not accept it," Weaver said in the Sept. 22 work session explaining why earlier hearing dates were changed.

The commission initially announced hearings for Sept. 17 (10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) and Sept. 24 (6 p.m.) with a called meeting planned Sept. 24 for a final vote. At the Sept. 22 work session Weaver said the hearings were rescheduled to Oct. 1 (10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) and Oct. 8 (10 a.m.) to meet advertising rules.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation is a procedural step that sets the proposed rate and hearing dates; the final millage rate will be adopted after the public‑hearing process and any required formal vote.