Coweta County commissioners Tuesday held the line on the millage rate, maintaining the 7.66 mill rate for the incorporated areas and lowering the unincorporated rate to 6.93 mills from last year’s 6.98 mills. The recession-fueled local economy saw only minor digest growth in the incorporated areas and a decrease in growth in the unincorporated areas.

“We are holding steady or, for the unincorporated area, slightly reducing the millage for 2009,” said Coweta County Commission Chairman Paul Poole. “We feel like it is extremely important that we keep our expenses to a minimum in the current economic market. Our citizens have tightened their belts and expect us to do the same, even while we invest in important infrastructure projects.”

County Public Information Officer Patricia Palmer said the difference in rates is due to the way insurance premium taxes are returned to the county and municipalities. Unincorporated property owners receive credit for the insurance premiums that are returned to the county. Cities and municipalities also receive this credit and can pass it along to their property owners on city tax bills.

The county’s 5-year history shows that the millage rate in both areas has stayed the same or declined since 2007 when the incorporated areas saw a rate of 7.76 mills and the unincorporated rate was 7.15 mills.

Real and personal property in the incorporated areas increased slightly from $1,236,693,720 in 2008 to an estimated $1,266,485,857 in 2009. Due largely to commercial development in the past year, the increase is nonetheless the least annual growth seen in the county during the past five years. The net digest in the incorporated areas also showed an increase from $1,215,145,349 in 2008 to $1,251,212,519 in 2009.

The net tax levy will increase by only $128,764 due to growth in the digest, Palmer said.

Real and personal property in the unincorporated areas decreased this year to $3,049,937,141 from $3,061,239,195 in 2008. And the net digest in the unincorporated areas saw a decrease of approximately $800,000, from $2,838,931,245 in 2008 to $2,837,745,955 in 2009.

Also at the meeting, commissioners and county administrator Theron Gay noted the elimination of the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) credit by Gov. Sonny Perdue and the General Assembly that takes effect this year. The changes first announced nearly a year ago were said to reflect the recessionary state of the Georgia economy. The credit resulted in a $200-$300 reduction to property tax bills.

Due to financial strains on the state budget, the Georgia General Assembly and the Governor did not fund this credit for 2009 property tax bills, Palmer said. While the HTRG credit may someday be reinstated by the General Assembly, it is not expected to be considered again until state revenues increase significantly. Because of that credit not being funded, the average homeowner will have an increase on their tax bill, said Palmer.

Also discussed at the meeting was the $20 million Fire Bond approved by voters last November, designed to improve fire and public safety services in the county. The Fire Bond will amount to roughly $28 in taxes for a $150,000 home, Palmer said. These dollars will be used to purchase new fire equipment, build two fire stations and purchase a new, countywide public safety communications system and should result in an improved ISO rating and lower insurance premiums for citizens, she said.

Palmer said residents in the unincorporated areas, along with the municipalities of Moreland, Turin and Sharpsburg, will see an additional line item on their tax bill for this fire bond.

The municipalities of Grantville, Senoia and Haralson are participating in this Fire Bond as well and will include the cost on city tax bills.

login to post comments