Public hearings on 21.44% tax hike proposal are set

Three public hearings have been scheduled on the 21.41 percent tax hike being considered by the Grady County Commission.
The first of those hearings will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7 in the main courtroom on the second floor of the Grady County Courthouse. A second hearing will be held that night beginning at 6 p.m., also in the courtroom.
The third and final hearing is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14 in the courtroom.
The county’s tentative 2019 spending plan is $791,530 more than the 2018 budget but county officials are looking to increase the taxes the county collects by approximately $1.7 million over last year.
Grady County Commission Chairman Ray Prince said this week, “We set it high because we can go down, but we can’t go up once a tentative millage is set. I don’t see us actually approving a three mill increase.”
The public will have the opportunity to express their views on the proposed tax increase during the upcoming public hearings.
Final adoption of the millage rate for 2018 is to be voted on following the hearing on Aug. 14, which begins at 6 p.m.
The county’s 2019 proposed budget includes zero raises for county employees.
According to Accounting Manager Donna Johnson, the proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $100,000 would be approximately $113.85 and for a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $250,000, the increase would be approximately $299.60.
A copy of the proposed budget can be previewed at the county commission office at the courthouse.