The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will hold the third, and final, millage rate hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 15.
The county staff is advertising a lowering of the millage rate to 4.895 mills. Following the third hearing, the board of commissioners will vote on the 2023 millage rate. County Manager Scott Johnson told commissioners during the second hearing that the staff is recommending a quarter mill rollback of the millage rate.
“We actually did our budget this year based on a projected millage rate of 4.999,” Johnson said. “After we worked on the budget, we did it on a 5% growth in the digest, we saw a large growth in the digest. We’ve actually proposed a millage rate of 4.895, so we’re looking at a full quarter mill rollback of the millage rate.”
Commissioners will also vote on appointments to the Public Facilities Authority Board. The staff recommendations are Gary Richardson, District 1, Scott Johnson, District 2, Connie Melear, District 3, Andy Finch, District 4 and a to be determined appointee. Johnson said they were waiting on the appointee from Board of Commissioners Chair Doug Duncan.
“The governor signed the bill to create the Columbia County Public Facilities Authority. This gives us the ability to do specific projects and be able to issue very specific revenue bonds that can be used by the county, school board and cities,” Johnson said during the Management and Internal Services Committee meeting on Aug. 8. “The cities have expressed, at least one of the cities has already expressed interest to use the Public Facilities Authority.”
Priscilla Bence is on the agenda to speak to commissioners during the public comment portion of the meeting.
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15 in the auditorium at the Evans Government Center.
Stephanie Hill is the managing editor and covers Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
