A public hearing has been set for citizens to hear a breakdown on revenues and expenditures for the 2022 North Augusta budget proposal.
The public hearing is set for Oct. 18 in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave. The hearing will begin at 5:45 p.m.
Council members were briefed on the proposed $48.7 million budget during a Sept. 21 study session. It includes rate increases for facility rentals, as well as residential and commercial sanitation.
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City Administrator Jim Clifford said the budget also includes a 4% cost of living raise for all employees.
“We’re in a very competitive labor market right now and we’re seeing labor rates rise across both the private sector and the public sector,” he said. “As I look at the city of Aiken, Aiken County, Columbia County and Augusta-Richmond County, all of those municipalities and counties are raising their overall labor rates. In order for us to remain competitive with that, I believe we’re going to have to do the same.”
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The proposal sets the millage rate at 73.5 mills, which is the current millage rate. However, because of property reassessments in Aiken and Edgefield Counties, holding the millage rate steady next year will bring in more than $10 million. Due to annexations, some areas of North Augusta extend into Edgefield County.
Clifford explained, “If we do a rollback based on our property tax assessments from Edgefield and Aiken County, that would roll back to 70.2. What the staff and I are recommending is that we lock in our current millage rate at 73.5, understanding that that is a de facto increase of 3.3 mills. It’s a way we can capture some of the costs.”
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Finance Director Cammie Hayes says keeping the millage rate at 73.50 mills will result in an annual tax increase of about $31.00 on a person with a $200,000 home and two vehicles totaling $40,000 in value.
A copy of the proposed 2022 budget is available for review at the city clerk’s office. It is also available on the city’s website
The target is to approve the 2022 budget in the first week of November.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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