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Demorest council reviews three FY2026 budget scenarios and outlines millage hearings; several routine motions approved
Summary
The Demorest City Council reviewed three proposed FY2026 budget options, discussed preferences among council members and announced follow-up hearings on the proposed 2025 millage rate; the council also approved routine financial and grant motions and tabled city hall plans for further review.
The Demorest City Council on Oct. 21, 2025, reviewed three FY2026 budget scenarios and discussed a proposed 2025 millage rate that would raise property taxes. City Manager Mark Musselwhite presented Budget 3 Option 1 (millage 7.17), Option 2 (partial rollback to 6.99) and Option 3 (full rollback to 6.953); no members proposed the higher 7.17 option during discussion.
Mayor Jerry Harkness opened the public hearing and urged residents and council members to review the budget options and bring questions to city staff. Councilman Shawn Allen and Councilman Jimmy Davis said they supported Option 3, the full rollback scenario; Councilman Andrew Ferguson said he favored Option 2. Councilman Donnie Bennett emphasized the council’s need to ‘‘choose what is best for the city and fully understand the budget before voting,’’ according to the meeting record. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
The council reviewed a tentatively adopted millage rate that, as presented, would increase property taxes by 8.60 percent and produce a proposed millage of 7.16 mills, an increase of 0.567 mill from a no-increase rate of 6.593 mills. Staff provided estimated household impacts: for a homestead property with a fair market value of $175,000, the increase would be approximately $28.35; for nonhomestead property at the same value, approximately $39.69. Additional public hearings were announced, including Oct. 30 at 6:00 p.m.
Votes at a glance The council approved several procedural and financial items by unanimous votes (4-0): - Approval of the meeting agenda (moved by Councilman Donnie Bennett; seconded by Councilman Andrew Ferguson). - Renewal of a 12-month certificate of deposit at Traditions Bank (moved by Councilman Shawn Allen; seconded by Councilman Andrew Ferguson). - Approval of a resolution required for an accepted Land and Water Conservation Fund grant (moved by Councilman Shawn Allen; seconded by Councilman Andrew Ferguson). - The council moved to table consideration of additional concept plans for city hall renovations and parking until Nov. 6 (moved by Councilman Shawn Allen; seconded by Councilman Andrew Ferguson).
The meeting opened with an invocation and was called to order by Mayor Harkness at 5:00 p.m.; it adjourned at 5:19 p.m. following a unanimous motion to adjourn (moved by Councilman Andrew Ferguson; seconded by Councilman Jimmy Davis).
