The Columbia County Management and Internal Services Committee approved certifying an estimated rollback rate to be included on the annual notice of assessment.
This information is required to be put on notices due to House Bill 581 and House Bill 92 and is not the final, approved millage rate, said County Manager Scott Johnson.
“Part of what that did was put additional requirements on governments as it relates to the tax bill,” Johnson said. “Historically when the tax bill’s go out, we would put last year’s millage rate and then an estimated tax, so that would be last year’s millage rate times whatever your value was this year, that gave you an estimated tax. That’s the way the tax bills had to go out. “
However, the new law changes that format by stating governments have to certify a rollback rate and publish that on the tax millage, Johnson said. For Columbia County, the estimated rollback is 4.36 mills (for Net M&O), with last year’s rate being 4.568 mills
“There will be no estimated tax on your bill, but if you take your new value and multiply it times the rollback rate, then that will give you your new tax,” Johnson said.
He added that the certified estimated rate might not be the final rate that is voted on by the Board of Commissioners in August.
“But this year, I believe we are committed to going all the way to the rollback rate,” Johnson said. “It should work out for us. So that’s just it. It’s a new way of calculating it, new way of printing the tax bills because of those two laws.”
Notices should be going to residents next week.
Development and Planning Services Committee
The Development and Planning Services Committee approved several contract renewals, including with Otis Elevator Company for elevator maintenance, with Northwest Exterminating Co., Inc. for exterminating services, Coast Waste & Recycling of Georgia LLC for refuse services, with A-Com Security Company, LLP for fire and intrusion monitoring services and Southeaster Paper Group, LLC and KAMO Manufacturing Company, Inc. for purchasing janitorial supplies.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee heard updates on the Animal Services Department, SPLOST Funds and 311 Call Center. There were no major issues found.
