Fulton Mulls Tax Increase

If millage rates proposed to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners are approved, residents would see a property tax increase.

That’s something at least one commissioner is against. Liz Hausmann, who represents District 3, that reducing expenses is a better way than increasing taxes to address the budget shortfall.

“I think there are things we could do to reorganize the way we offer services,” Hausmann said. “We could reduce our expenses or, we could just eliminate some programs. We need to determine what our priorities are.”

Commissioners are slated to vote on three proposed millage rates on July 17 - a General Fund millage rate of 10.211 mills, a Bond Fund millage rate of 0.27 mills and a new Hospital Authority Fund of 1.56 mills to fund Grady Hospital and other health clinics.

Commission Chairman John Eaves said that the county currently funds the hospital and clinics out of its General Fund.

“It is a shifting of the allocation of the support of Grady Hospital from one fund to another,” Eaves said.

It’s been almost 20 years since the county has increased its General Fund millage rate.

“I just can’t imagine that any of the commissioners would agree to go along with raising taxes,” Hausmann said.

But, Eaves said that county officials have trimmed $80 million from the budget in the last five years and that, at this point, there’s not much left to cut.

“We’ve kind of cut back bare bones as best we could without compromising the type of services we provide,” the chairman said. “Frankly, we’re at the point now where it’s status quo, and we’ll have to cut programs we currently serve and provide. One option is keeping things the way things are, and the other option is (adding a new revenue stream).”

When asked if he would support a property tax increase, Eaves said that he has an open mind.

 “My position has been, let’s just get the information,” Eaves said. “Let’s explore as many options as possible. We want to do the best that we can in terms of keeping property taxes as low as possible while at the same time we want to do all that we can to fund the services that we provide to the million residents of our county. I’m having an open mind and exploring as many options as possible.”

A public hearing and vote on the proposed millage rates is scheduled for July 17 at 10 a.m. in the Assembly Hall at the Fulton County Government Center.