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Chatham County commissioners hold public hearing on advertised millage rates; no public comment
Summary
At a July 15 special-call meeting, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners opened and closed a public hearing on advertised millage rates — including a proposed 10.518‑mill general fund rate — with no members of the public signing up to speak; final adoption is scheduled for July 31.
Chatham County’s Board of Commissioners held a special-call meeting at 9 a.m. July 15 to take public comment on advertised millage rates and the proposed budget, but no members of the public signed up to speak.
Chairman Chester A. Ellis said the hearing was being held "in compliance with state law" and that "the Chatham County Board of Commissioners have announced publicly its intent to increase the property taxes," noting the hearing’s purpose "is to provide members of the public the opportunity to comment." The board read the advertised rates aloud for the record.
Ellis reported the advertised millage for the general fund at 10.518 mills, which he said is 0.33 mills higher than the calculated rollback rate of 10.188. He said the advertised rate for the special service district is 6.502 mills, 0.230 mills above its rollback rate of 6.272. He also stated the Chatham Area Transit Authority’s advertised rate as 0.940 mills, which he described as 0.03 mills higher than the agency’s calculated rollback rate; the transcript’s stated rollback figure for the transit authority was garbled and not clearly recorded in the meeting text.
Before the hearing, the board approved a motion to excuse Commissioner Anthony Wayne Noah after the chair said Noah had been recently discharged from the hospital. The motion and second were called and the chair indicated the commissioner was excused.
A motion to open the public hearing was moved, seconded and approved. After the chair announced the hearing open, he asked whether anyone had signed up to speak; none had. The board then moved, seconded and voted to close the public hearing.
Chairman Ellis told the commission the second public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. and that the board will officially adopt the millage rate at its next meeting on July 31. No other substantive debate or public testimony was recorded at the special-call session.
Minutes indicated a sign-in sheet was available for name, address and organizational affiliation and callers were asked to keep remarks brief so all who wished could speak; however, no speakers used that opportunity during this hearing.
