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Canton advertises higher millage and flags state LHOST action amid county communication gaps
Summary
City manager presented the budget calendar (public hearings in July–August), recommended advertising a 6.0 millage rate to preserve flexibility given county fire-tax uncertainty, and warned of fast-moving state action on a Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) that cities say was discussed with the delegation without city notification.
City Manager Peppers updated the council June 18 on the budget calendar, South Canton Park issues and recent state-level movement on the Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST). He recommended advertising a six-mill rate to preserve council flexibility while county fire-tax and digest information remains uncertain; the advertising schedule sets public hearings on July 2, July 16 and Aug. 6.
Peppers also described construction and erosion-control issues at South Canton Park that the contractor is addressing under third-party inspection; staff are coordinating directly with affected property owners to mitigate impacts.
On statewide policy, Peppers reported that Senate Bill 33 (special-session LHOST legislation) has been filed and that cities were caught by surprise when a quorum of Cherokee County commissioners and the legislative delegation met recently in Atlanta without notifying municipal leaders. "We were told by the county manager and the county commission chair that there was no appetite for an LHOST," Peppers said; the city manager added that the county appears to have misunderstood how proceeds would flow, and that county-level approval alone would not reduce the city portion of property-tax bills unless a separate city referendum passes.
Peppers told the council staff will keep monitoring the legislation and communicate further as state action develops. That state-level activity could lead to a voter referendum this fall; the manager said that unless Canton voters approve a city-level referendum, county approval would not reduce the city portion of property taxes for residents.
What happens next: staff will proceed with the advertised public-hearing schedule on the millage rate and continue monitoring the LHOST bill and county actions. Council retained flexibility by advertising a higher rate rather than locking in a lower advertised rate that might require reopening the millage process if county tax actions change.
