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Brooks officials present two millage options at public hearing; no vote taken
Summary
Town staff presented two proposed 2024 millage rates and revenue comparisons Oct. 21; council held a first reading and took no action. A resident questioned budget overruns and legal spending, which staff addressed.
Town of Brooks officials presented two proposed 2024 millage-rate options at a public hearing on Oct. 21 and took no formal action at the first reading.
Town Clerk Lorey Spohr explained the town’s tax digest and showed two millage scenarios: 1.207 mills, estimated to generate $66,358, and a rollback rate of 1.129 mills, estimated to generate $62,070. Spohr said the value of one mill for 2024 is $54,978 and that the FY2025 budgeted property-tax amount is $61,610. She compared the effect of the two rates on six sample homes and told the council, “No action is to be taken this evening as this is the first reading.”
The two millage options differ by roughly $4,748 in additional revenue (1.207 mills) versus about $470 (1.129 mills), according to the presentation. Mayor Daniel Langford observed the rollback rate would provide enough revenue to meet the town’s FY2025 property-tax target, but staff noted the town already spent $8,000 from fund balance to replace Hardy Hall’s roof.
During the public-comment portion, resident David Harris of 968 Highway 85 Connector asked for specifics about which department budgets were exceeding their allocations and why the millage had been frozen and later unfrozen. “What is the point of having a budget if you continue to go over the budget?” Harris asked.
Lorey Spohr replied that legal expenses had already exceeded the FY2025 legal budget by $1,986, but said the town had not exceeded its total approved FY2025 budget and that funds may be shifted between departments as needed. Mayor Langford said, “the town has the right to sue anyone who has wronged the town,” in response to a question about legal action.
M. Ungaro reminded the council that the public hearing was limited to the notice of property tax increase and the millage rate. Mayor Langford said budget specifics could be discussed at the regular council meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. that evening.
The public hearing opened at 5:30 p.m., was closed at 5:54 p.m., and the hearing session was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. No vote on a millage rate was taken at the hearing; the presentation was recorded as a first reading for future consideration.
Separately, at the start of the meeting Council Member Scott Israel moved to approve the agenda; Council Member Todd Speer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
