Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Taxes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Demorest opens public hearing after officials propose roughly 30% property tax increase
Summary
Demorest officials announced a tentative 2024 millage that would raise property taxes about 30.21%, presented three revenue scenarios and recommended a 7.16-mill rate; no members of the public spoke at the hearing.
Demorest Mayor Jerry Harkness opened a special called public hearing on Oct. 15, 2024, to present options for the city's 2024 millage rate and to solicit public comment. The council announced a tentative increase that city officials said would amount to about a 30.21% rise in property taxes.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite outlined three revenue scenarios tied to different millage rates: 5.499 mills (estimated collections $361,979), 6.16 mills (estimated $405,490) and 7.16 mills (estimated $471,317). Musselwhite recommended the 7.16-mill option, which the council said would represent an increase of 1.661 mills over the no-increase rate.
Officials provided example impacts for a property with a fair market value of $175,000, saying the proposed increase would be approximately $102.92 for a homestead property and approximately $116.27 for a nonhomestead property. The figures were presented as estimates by administration and council.
Mayor Harkness opened the public comment portion of the hearing; no members of the public spoke. The mayor then closed the public hearing. Following routine business, Councilman Donnie Bennett moved to adjourn; Councilman Jimmy Davis seconded. The motion was recorded as unanimously approved and the meeting adjourned at 12:32 p.m.
The council announced additional public hearing opportunities on Oct. 15 at 5:00 p.m. and Oct. 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, where residents may speak or submit comments before any final decision on the millage rate.
