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Ocilla raises sanitation fee as council warns of delayed tax notices and $500,000 note due
Summary
The City of Ocilla approved raising monthly sanitation fees from $19 to $25 amid a delayed tax-assessment process that officials say could push collections to February 2026 and leave the city facing a $500,000 tax anticipation note due Dec. 31, 2025.
The City of Ocilla Council on Sept. 15 approved a monthly sanitation fee increase from $19 to $25 as officials warned of a cash-flow strain caused by delayed tax-assessment notices and a $500,000 Tax Anticipation Note due at the end of the year.
Utilities Director Bruce Wilder told the council sanitation fees have not increased since 1994 and recommended the raise to cover rising costs. Councilman Chris Paulk moved to increase the fee and Councilwoman Patrice Manley seconded; the motion carried unanimously.
Finance Officer Paula Ball reported that Tax Assessment Notices have not been sent and that tax collections are likely to be delayed until February 2026. Ball and other council members said the delay, combined with the city’s $500,000 TAN due Dec. 31, 2025, creates an “extreme hardship” for Ocilla’s finances.
Council members discussed other cost-saving and revenue options. Councilman Chris Paulk suggested turning management of the Sweet Potato Festival over to Irwin County to reduce city obligations. The council also said there is currently no funding available to pay for an external audit until tax revenues are collected.
Mayor Melvin D. Harper II noted the city has not hired a certified Code Enforcement Officer because of the financial situation and that Police Department staff have been assisting with code enforcement duties in the interim.
The council adjourned after an executive session on litigation; no action resulted from that session.
What happens next: The sanitation fee increase takes effect as approved; the council discussed but did not adopt further measures at the meeting to address the year-end TAN beyond the items noted above.
