Lowndes County weighs tax increase

Published 5:59 am Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Lowndes County Commission weighed the likelihood of raising the millage rate Tuesday — the first such tax increase in 15 years.

During the past few years, all of the Lowndes County government departments have slashed their expenditures as razor thin as possible to meet revenues. During the Tuesday morning meeting, county commissioners discussed the Fiscal Year 2015 budget, and the possibility of a millage rate increase.

The county’s proposed budget for the 2015FY is nearly $95 million in revenues, and approximately $112 million in expenditures. In its general fund, the county’s proposed revenue for the 2015FY is nearly $48 million, while expenditures are $50,563,122; the difference is divided among the various county departments. Property tax goes into the general fund revenue.

County officials said they will do whatever is necessary to continue services even if that means a .93 percent increase in the county’s millage rate.

“The bottom line is that the expenditures are above the revenue. That has been something that has been going on over the last few years, but basically, all of the departments have been cutting, and cutting, and cutting their budgets down, their expenditure down to match the revenue,” said Lowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter. “We are at a crossroads where we have to take a serious look at our budget issues, and as a commission, we’re going to have to make the tough decisions to continue to provide the services that we provide to the citizens of Lowndes County.”

When asked about a tax increase, Slaughter said, “We certainly hope not, but yes, to be totally honest, as the budget is projected right now, we’re looking at .93 millage increase. That is our deficit. We’re looking at that, and if we can find some savings then that number will come down. But as it stands right now, I would be remiss to stand here before you, or anybody else and say that there is not going to be a tax increase.”

During the Feb. 11, 2014, meeting, the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners hired Dr. Stephen E. Condrey from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia, for a position and classification study for county employees so that a recommendation for updating job descriptions and the pay scale could be developed.

Slaughter said he wants to make sure that county employees are properly compensated for their work, and that budget restraints do not impair county services.

“At the end of the day, this is about revenue and expenditures, and the decisions that we have to make, but ultimately, we’re trying to make sure that all of the employees are fairly compensated and taken care of,” Slaughter said. “Our primary driver is to make sure that the citizens of Lowndes County are able to continue to get the great services that they are currently getting. Those are the decisions that we will have to make.”

The county last raised the millage rate in 1999.

County officials state, “In 1999, the incorporated millage rate was increased by 1.719 mils and the unincorporated millage rates was increased by 2.262 mils. This is a significant fact in that while costs for goods and services have increased since 1999, Lowndes County has continued to roll back the millage rate or at the very least to hold it steady.”

The county’s financial department presented the budget; the next meeting will be after the commissioners make changes to this budget, and the final meeting will be when the commission votes on the 2015FY budget.

The county has not scheduled the next meeting, but a balanced budget must be submitted by the Board of Commissioners to the State of Georgia before June 30. Once confirmed, the meeting time and location will be posted on the county’s website.

A draft copy of the budget remains on file in the Office of the County Clerk. Electronic copies may be provided upon request. Once adopted, an approved copy of the budget will be posted on the county’s website.