City Council Meets on Millage Rate Today

Unable to agree in July, the city council is meeting again today for a special-called session to decide the millage rate.

Typically, the millage rate is set before the new fiscal year, or at the beginning in some cases, but on July 11, Snellville city leaders argued to the point of indecision. There were two votes taken at the time: one for a 5.7 millage rate, and one for a 5.9 millage rate.

of the six-member council, forcing leaders into the predicament they are in today. According to city manager Russell Treadway, council members can vote on any rate it wants, so long as it less than 6.19 mills -- the initial staff reccommendation.

Until recently, city council members were working with a 2011-2012 budget with some projections of shortfalls -- part of the reason for confusion and indecision on setting a millage rate. Now, that Treadway and staff have completed the , there appears to be hundreds of thousands of dollars more in the budget now.

That means that the city can effectively chose a millage rate that does not increase taxes, and still be able to make its budget in this current 2011-2012 budget year, barring in drastic, costly events. Councilwoman Kelly Kautz had offered an amendment to the 2011-2012 budget that would reduce costs to support a low millage rate, however that was before learning of the year-end balance.

The council will meet today, August 1, at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a public hearing if citizens wish to speak on the matter.