First two public hearings on the proposed millage rate are in the books
News July 10, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Chief Financial Officer Marcus Turk presented the FY 2022 proposed millage rates at the first two of three required public hearings on Thursday morning. The second was held Thursday evening.
Marcus Turk
The county’s proposed rate is 7.896 mils, the same as last year. The proposed budget is $186,100,000, a 13.4 percent increase over last year’s adopted budget.
Turk said he anticipates revenue of $186,100,000 and expenditures of $180,566,670, with $5,533,330 available to be added to the county fund balance.
The tax digest that was finalized on May 26 showed a total increase from $16.7 billion last year to $20.38 billion this year.
But the county’s millage rate tells only a small part of the story. The school system has approved a millage rate more than double the size of the county’s at 18.718 mils, including bond pay back. Total millage rate for residents of Forsyth County: 27.614 mils.
Only one person spoke out against the county’s millage rate during the morning public hearing. Steven Schroeder, a resident of Vickery Village, said, “The millage rate should be discounted by 10-12 percent due to the exorbitant amount of assessed value that has been imposed by the (Tax) Assessor’s Office.”
Schroeder added, ” I know personally of 21 property owners in my community of Vickery Village that have filed appeals because their assessed value has been overstated.”
No one spoke in opposition to the millage rate in the evening session.
County millage rate will remain unchanged but tax digest grows by 13.46 percent
News June 24, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will maintain the current Maintenance & Operations, Bond and Fire millage rates with no change.
The proposed County Maintenance & Operations rate is 4.791 mills. The proposed
Fire rate is 2.175 mills. The proposed Bond rate is 0.930 mills.
These rates will fund the County’s 2023 budget, which is being developed. A growth of 13.46% in Forsyth County’s tax digest means that, while the county is maintaining the same
millage rates with no change, the anticipated total collections will increase. Of the 13.46% growth, 4.62% is due to new construction in 2021 and the remaining 8.84% comes from increased values from reassessments.
Any change in an individual tax bill will depend upon the change in assessed valuation for that property, and the value of any Homestead Exemption, which may also change with the assessed value. When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments or growth occurred.
Due to the growth in the tax digest, Maintenance & Operations taxes will increase by a net 8.44% over the rollback millage rate. The preliminary 2023 budget presented to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is based on a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate, therefore before the Board of Commissioners may set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase.
All interested citizens are invited and encouraged to attend the public hearings:
Thursday, July 7 at 11 a.m.
Thursday, July 7 at 5 p.m.
Thursday, July 21 at 6 p.m.
All three public hearings will be held at the Forsyth County Administration Building located at 110 E. Main Street, Suite 220, in Cumming. Adoption of the millage rate is slated for July 21 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting.
County will advertise millage rate of 27.614
News June 9, 2021
CFO Marcus Turk
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — During Tuesday’s work session, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Chief Financial Officer Marcus Turk’s request to advertise a tentative millage rate for the FY 2021 budget.
The overall millage rate is tentatively 27.614 mils, 19.718 mils for the Forsyth County School System and 7.896 for the county. The FY 2020 millage rate was 27.654.
The proposed budget anticipates $163, 966,724 in general fund revenue, an increase of approximately 8 percent over last year, and $158,772,324 in expenditures, with $5,194,400 available to add to the contingency.
Turk projected a 3 percent increase in real and personal property taxes for the purpose of the millage rate authorization request.
The Fire Fund revenue is projected at$30,499,644 with expenditures anticipated at$29,486,265.
County Manager Kevin Tanner said, “Because of the conservative nature of Forsyth County the last several years, not only has your millage rate remained but you also have a plan in place to build the new administrative facility and purchase property and pay cash. No bonds. No SPOST funds. Cash. Very few counties in the country are managed as well as Forsyth County has been.”
Commissioners will consider request to advertise millage rate during today’s work session
News June 8, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Commissioners will have a full workday Tuesday when they will consider a 40-item agenda that includes a request for authorization to advertise a tentative Millage Rate for adoption during a work session that will begin at 2 p.m. in the County Administration Building.
Items under consideration include:
- Approval to declare the attached list of items as surplus with authorization for the Department of Procurement to dispose of accordingly;
- Approval to enter into an Apple Developer Account Agreement with Apple Inc. for the Department of Information Systems and Technology in the amount of $99,000;
- Approval of additional services with Pond & Company for the Ronald Reagan Boulevard Extension for providing the FEMA Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) and the Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) in the amount of $87,720;
- Approval to upgrade the existing SCADA Remote Transmitting Units and trade-in the old units through Kazmier & Associates for the Department of Water and Sewer in the amount of $62,184;
- Approval of a Sole Source Purchase for Gate Valves through Ferguson Enterprises for the Department of Water and Sewer in the amount of $450,000 for the purchase of nine (9) Gate Valves;
- Approval of a Sole Source Purchase for one hundred (100) MXB Voting Booths from Inclusion Solutions for the Department of Voter Registrations and Elections in the amount of $76,082;
- Approval to award Bid 21-33-3330 for the purchase of two (2) new Compact Excavators for the Department of Water and Sewer in the amount of $152,299.37;
- Approval to award Bid 21-64-1620 to provide all labor for removal and installation of new HVAC Systems at Accountability Court, Central Park, and Tax Commissioner/Magistrate Court for the Department of Public Facilities in the amount of $67.500.00;
- Approval to award Quote 21-83-3300 for the purchase of four Flatbed Trailers for the Department of Water and Sewer to Country Boy Trailers in the amount of $48,000;
- Approval of a Change Order with Carroll Daniel Construction Company for the Juvenile Justice Center Construction Project in the amount of $221,368 (within Project Budget);
- Approval of a Change Order with Excellere Construction, LLC on the Big Creek Greenway Phase 1 Repair/Replacement Project in the amount of $95,550;
- Approval of a Task Order with Hazen & Sawyer for Preliminary Engineering on several Wastewater Capital Improvement Projects in the Shakerag Basin for the Department of Water and Sewer in the amount of $312,306;
- Approval of a Task Order with Precision Planning, Inc. for Water and Sewer Main Relocation Design Services on Post Road in the amount of $225,040;
- Approval of a Contract Item Agreement Memorandum of Understanding with Georgia Department of Transportation for engineering design and relocation of water and sewer utilities due to the Post Road Widening Project from SR 9 to CR 5/Kelly Mill Road;
- Approval of the Legacy Link/Area Agency on Aging Addendum 2 to increase funding by $1,460 for home delivered meals and for operation of a nutrition site with authorization for the Chair to sign Addendum;
- Approval of the Legacy Link/Area Agency on Aging Fiscal Year 2022 Contract, which provides $441,426 for services with a $122,262 cash match to become effective on July 1, 2021 with authorization for the Chair to sign the Contract;
- Approval of the GEMA/FEMA Hurricane Zeta 4579 Sub-Recipient Agreement with authorization for the Chair to execute the Agreement;
- Approval to proceed with the Renovation Project for a Sheriff’s Training Facility at 245 Castleberry Industrial Drive, an 11,250 SF office and warehouse space leased by the Sheriff’s Office. Renovations will include buildouts of office and classroom spaces with approximate costs of $42,000; Public Facilities Capital Outlay Funds;
- Approval of a Board generated rezoning for ZA3821, Tallant Family Limited Partnership. In accordance with UDC 8-5.5(I), if an application for a land disturbance permit has not been submitted within 18 months of zoning approval, the Board may consider rezoning to a constitutional zoning designation;
- Approval of a Board generated rezoning for ZA3858, Pilgrim Mill Family Partnership, LLLP. In accordance with UDC 8-5.5(I), if an application for a land disturbance permit has not been submitted within 18 months of zoning approval, the Board may consider rezoning to a constitutional zoning designation;
- Board discussion and possible direction regarding amendments to the Unified Development Code related to Dumpsters in Residential Districts within Chapters 3 and 11
- Board discussion and possible direction regarding amendments to the Unified Development Code related to Timber Harvesting within Chapters 11, 12, 14, 15, and 16;
- Board discussion and possible direction regarding amendments to the Unified Development Code related to Construction Hours within Chapter 10;
- Board consideration and acceptance of Council of Accountability Courts Judges State of Georgia Grant Program in the amount of $255,216 with a match of $28,357 for Forsyth County’s Adult Felony Drug Court; grant period is from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Funding will support personnel costs, drug testing supplies, workbooks, and training costs;
- Board consideration and acceptance of Council of Accountability Courts Judges State of Georgia Grant Program in the amount of $158,887.00 with a match of $17,654 for Forsyth County’s C.A.R.E. Court; grant period is from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Funding will support personnel drug testing supplies, workbooks, and training costs;
- Board consideration and acceptance of Council of Accountability Courts Judges State of Georgia Grant Program in the amount of $101,643.00 with a match of $11,294.00 for Forsyth County’s DUI Court; grant period is from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Funding will support costs of counselors, drug testing supplies, workbooks, training, and travel costs;
- Board consideration and acceptance of Council of Accountability Courts Judges State of Georgia grant program in the amount of $33,184.00 with a match of $3,687.00 for Forsyth County’s Family Drug Court; grant period is from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Funding will support costs of treatment counselors, drug testing supplies, workbooks, and training conference;
- Board consideration and authorization for the Chair to sign the updated Certificate Designating Authorized Representatives regarding the 2019 Forsyth GO SPLOST. This Certificate authorizes staff to execute draws on the 2019 GO (Sales Tax) Bond;
- Board consideration and possible direction regarding the request for authorization to advertise a tentative Millage Rate for adoption;
- Board consideration of Cybersecurity Assessment Agreements with the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency with authorization for the Chief Information Officer to execute the same on behalf of the County;
- (31) Board appointment of a District 3 Representative to serve on the Library Board of Trustees for a four-year term to begin on July 1, 2021 and end on June 30, 2025 – County Manager
- Board appointment / reappointment of a District 5 Representative to serve on the Department of Family and Children Services Board for a five-year term to begin on July 1, 2021 and end on June 30, 2026;
- Board consideration and authorization to send a letter to United Healthcare regarding the threat of termination of Northside Forsyth Hospital facilities;
- Board discussion and possible direction regarding the Forsyth County/City of Cumming Land Bank and appointment of members;
- Board consideration of dedication by Parkway Presbyterian Church, Inc. of Steeplechase Lane as public right of way;
- Board ratification of Purchase Agreement for 0.007 acres of fee simple right of way; 10,738.93 square feet of temporary construction easement; and one driveway easement in the amount of $25,000 needed for Parcel 10 of the Old Atlanta Road Widening Project, Phase 4 (owner: John Parents Homes, LLC);
- Board ratification of Purchase Agreement for 542.71 square feet of fee simple right of way and 2,614.46 square feet of temporary construction easement in the amount of $8,400 needed for Parcel 25 of the Old Atlanta Road Widening Project, Phase 5 (owner: Martin Hicks);
- Board ratification of Purchase Agreement for 34,243.09 square feet of temporary construction easement in the amount of $35,000 needed for Parcel 18 of the Ronald Reagan Boulevard Project (owner: Ecopark Properties, Inc.);
- Board consideration of proposed Consent Order and Judgment for Civil Action File No. 17CV-0450-2 in the amount of $77,580 in connection with Parcel 8 of the SR 369 at Pooles Mill Road Project (owner: Janice P. McGrew, individually and as survivor to Elmer N. McGrew; and Etowah Trails Homeowners Association, Inc.);
- Board consideration of proposed Consent Order and Judgment in regards to Civil Action File No. 20CV-1989-1 in the amount of $7,000 in connection with Parcel 178 of the McGinnis Ferry Widening Project (owner: Johns Creek Investment & Development, LLC).
Public hearings on millage rate set next week
News July 1, 2020
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold three public hearings on the proposed 2021 millage rate beginning next week. Two meetings are scheduled for Thursday (July 9) at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 110 E. Main Street in Cumming.
A third public hearing will be held on July 23 at 6 p.m.
The proposed county maintenance & operations millage rate remains unchanged at 4.791 mills. The proposed fire rate remains unchanged at 2.175 mills. The proposed bond rate will be reduced to 0.930 mills, a 4.1 percent decrease.
These rates will fund the county’s 2021 general operating budget, which is currently in the preliminary stages of development.
A growth of 4.67 percent in Forsyth County’s tax digest means that, while the county is maintaining the same millage rates with no change, the anticipated total collections will increase. Of the 4.67 percent growth, 2.55 percent is due to new construction in 2019 and the remaining 2.12 percent comes from increased values from reassessments.
Any change in an individual tax bill will depend upon the change in assessed valuation for that property and the value of any Homestead Exemption, which may also change with the assessed value.
When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments or growth occurred.
The preliminary 2021 budget presented to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is based on a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate, therefore before the Board of Commissioners may set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase.
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