Grovetown City Council members approved a millage rate 7.62, the same as last year, during a special called meeting on Wednesday, July 26.
During the public hearings, Finance Director and Assistant City Administrator Bradley Smith stated the city has maintained the current millage rate for the last three years and is continuing to do so to prepare for future growth.
“Any citizen in Grovetown that has been here for the last few years can testify to the fact that we have seen tremendous growth here in Grovetown,” Smith said. “We also want to be able to compete in the workforce. There are a lot of new jobs coming to Columbia County and the surrounding areas and we want to make sure we can still recruit and retain the workforce that we have. Then lastly to improve services. As our population continues to grow, we want to be able to provide the same level or better services which we’ve been providing currently.”
Smith said one of the biggest questions the city gets each year is about how taxes can be raised while the millage rate remains the same.
“The city council is proposing to maintain the millage rate with the assumption that even though home values may have increased, we will see a tax increase because of that,” Smith said. “But one of the things we get a lot, the advertisement that went out (says) the city of Grovetown is going to experience a 14.09% tax increase, that may not be true for each and every home, some may see higher and some may see lower, but we also have to remember that 14.09% is an increase of the total assessment of all properties in the City of Grovetown. That includes new properties, that includes properties that have been reappraised, so we need to make sure we keep it in context. Not each individual is going to see this increase. If you did see a large increase on your appraisal, one of the things you can do is contact the county tax appraiser and speak to them.”
Property taxes are 29% of the total revenue that is received in the general fund, Smith said. Property taxes help pay for police, police, firefighters, medical response, road maintenance and repair, grass cutting, litter removal, curbside rough trash and grass clippings, pick up, streetlights, parks and recreation, city events, community center, planning, zoning, code enforcement, building inspections, permits, licenses, municipal court services, building permits and plan reviews. Besides property taxes, the general fund revenues are made up of local option sales tax, other taxes and feeds.
“The property taxes, which is controlled by the millage rate and the assessed value of your home…is what makes up the amount of property taxes,” Smith said. “Next year we’re projecting we’ll have approximately $13,733,000 in revenue, which is going to include not just property taxes, but local option sales tax, the other taxes here I was speaking of. You’ve got motor vehicle, motor home, alcohol, tobacco, franchise fees, a lot of those are going to roll up into that. Then you’ve got LMIG, garbage fees, fines and forfeitures, which is not just your public safety fines, but also planning and development, any kind of fines associated there as well. You also have license fees and permits, which is primary planning and development and then of course miscellaneous.”
There were no comments from the public during the two hearings held on Wednesday, July 26. The first hearing was held on July 18. To view the hearings, visit the City of Grovetown Facebook page.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
