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Cusseta‑Chattahoochee commission recommends proposed 9.504 millage, advances 1% FLOST ballot language
Summary
Commissioners on Sept. 2 recommended a proposed millage rate of 9.504 (an increase of 1.25 mills) and approved a resolution to place a one‑percent Flexible Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot; the county later rescheduled public hearings to Oct. 1 and Oct. 8.
Chairman Charles Coffey and the Commission of the Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County voted Sept. 2 to recommend a proposed millage rate of 9.504 and to forward a FLOST resolution authorizing a one‑percent county sales and use tax to the elections superintendent for the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot.
County Manager Thomas Weaver said the recommended millage — up from 8.254 last year — represents an increase of 1.25 mills. "It would be an estimated increase of $50 a year," Weaver said, referring to a homestead property with a $100,000 fair‑market value; he said a non‑homestead property valued at $50,000 would see about a $25 annual increase.
The FLOST resolution approved by motion would authorize the county to impose a 1.0% sales and use tax for a five‑year period if voters approve it. The resolution, as read by Chairman Coffey, asks the election superintendent to call an election and places the question on the Nov. 4 ballot. The resolution cites Article 2b of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated and references the county's relationship to the statewide floating homestead exemption in O.C.G.A. § 48‑5‑44.2.
At the Sept. 2 meeting commissioners voted unanimously to send the FLOST resolution to the election authority. Commissioner Damon Hoyte moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Jason Frost seconded. The vote was recorded as unanimous by the five commissioners present.
The county initially set public hearings for Sept. 17 (10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) and Sept. 24 (6 p.m.), and scheduled a called meeting for a final vote after the last hearing. At a Sept. 22 work session County Manager Weaver said the county's advertisement for those hearings did not meet Department of Revenue requirements and the hearings were rescheduled for Oct. 1 (10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) and Oct. 8 (10 a.m.).
What comes next: If the county follows the resolution language, the elections superintendent would publish statutory notice and place the following ballot wording before voters: "Shall a special one percent (1%) sales and use tax be imposed in the special district of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County for a period of time not to exceed 20 calendar quarters for the purpose of property tax relief in Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County, Georgia?" The commission's FLOST motion authorizes the clerk to deliver the resolution to the election superintendent and to publish the required notices.
The commission's recommendation on the millage rate is a procedural step; the rate itself will be set at a later meeting after the public hearing process and any required legal steps are complete.
