2024-07-22 · City Council · Transcript · Special Called Meeting Public Hearing 3 Setting the Millage Rate

--- title: Special Called Meeting Public Hearing 3 Setting the Millage Rate date: 2024-07-22 source: 2024-07-22_Special_Called_Meeting_Public_Hearing_3_Setting_the_Millage_Rate.wav --- [0:00:00, 0:00:20]: Father, we thank you this morning for again waking us up and giving us a fresh start with new grace and new mercy. We pray for this meeting and the proceedings today. We pray that everyone's voices will be heard. We pray, Lord God, for an expedient process that, Lord God, all your good deeds and all your good grace will fall on the citizens of Stockbridge. This we ask in this name of your son, Jesus. [0:00:20, 0:00:35]: In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, honored God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:00:36, 0:00:38]: Madam Clerk Roll Call, please. [0:00:43, 0:00:44]: Morning. [0:00:45, 0:00:48]: Present. Mayor Pro Temberry. Present. Council Member Out. [0:00:50, 0:00:53]: Council Member Barber. Present. Councilmember Gantt. [0:00:54, 0:00:58]: That the record replaced, Councilwoman McGantt is not in attendance. [0:00:58, 0:01:05]: Council Member Tom. Present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Appreciate that. Council, I need a motion to adopt the agenda, please. [0:01:05, 0:01:25]: So for Mr. Alzheimer's, is there a second? Ms. Barber, second then. All in favor, please indicate. Thank you very much. All righty. So ladies and gentlemen, we'll go through the uh public hearing. Notice rate presented by Mr. Gardner. But before Mr. Gardner gets started, let me read the public hearing rules. Please mute, mute, excuse me, all cell phones and other electronic devices. If anyone wishes to speak to [0:01:25, 0:01:31]: tonight on public hearing item please fill out the form available on the table and hand it to the city clerk before approaching the podium. [0:01:32, 0:01:52]: After each case is called, the council will hear from the city staff, followed by the applicant and a representative regarding the proposed plans for property along with or any other relevant information. The council will be free to ask questions at any time before the vote. Following the applicant, anyone who wishes to speak in favor or opposed to the case will have an opportunity to do so. [0:01:52, 0:02:12]: So each side will be allotted ten minutes total. Additional time may be extended at the discretion of the council. Please keep comments and presentation professional, referring only to the facts that are pertinent to the case. We will not allow comments or personal attacks toward any individual group. Please refrain from any applause or comments from the audience during the public hearing. After the presiding officer, [0:02:11, 0:02:19]: Officer recognizes the speaker, he or she shall direct all comments to the presiding officer and never to the members of the council, staff, or audience. [0:02:20, 0:02:40]: All comments will be made from the podium where you are required to state your name and address for the record. Please note that these hearings are not a debate. Fair to comply will cause you to be removed from the chamber and a building by law enforcement if you do if you deviate from these proceedings. Other than the applicant, no person may speak more than once. The applicant may receive. [0:02:40, 0:03:00]: Part of his or her speaking time as a rebuttal and may speak next and last and may use the entire 10 minutes allowed for the pro side of the application. If questions are raised, the council may ask the applicant to address questions and/or concerns. The bright the providing officer, uh, presiding officer will call for a motion. [0:02:59, 0:03:12]: Motion and the second through the motion will have any necessary discussion. If the matter is not tabled, the presiding officer will call for the vote to recommend approval or denial the request. Thank you very much. And Mr. Gardner, sir, saw news, sir. [0:03:22, 0:03:42]: Good morning, Mayor. Morning. Good morning, Council. And good morning, residents. Um, Mark Shaw, can everybody hear me well today? All right. We had to add a little box to the mic. Speaker to the mic. Yeah, to get it closer for everyone to be able to hear us, but thank you. Um today uh is our third public and last public hearing related to [0:03:42, 0:03:51]: To the adoption of our millage rate, which uh sets the rate for our general fund operations for the city of Stockbridge for the year 2025. [0:03:53, 0:03:58]: Um, as we spoke about in the previous two meetings, uh Stockbridge is a growing city, a fast growing city. [0:03:59, 0:04:02]: And as we know, we continue to grow as a city and developed. [0:04:03, 0:04:06]: Um I give some brief history about the growth of the city. [0:04:06, 0:04:18]: Well, in nineteen ninety the city had just over three thousand residents and now we're topping close to forty thousand residents as a city, headed in that direction, with all the growth and development that has occurred. [0:04:18, 0:04:21]: Um that growth and development obviously. [0:04:21, 0:04:30]: uh puts impacts on our public works because as the city keeps growing and spreading we add more roads, more sidewalks, more right away to maintain and operate. [0:04:30, 0:04:35]: as well as our new police service uh have to keep up with the growing demands of the po growing population. [0:04:36, 0:04:43]: Um we'll talk a little bit about um what we preliminaries see in our F Y twenty five budget and then the proposed mill is ready. [0:04:45, 0:05:05]: So the the Millage rate uh is driven specifically by uh tax digest and that's all accumulative properties within the city of Stockbridge as a whole. Uh and between twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four our digest grew by four point four percent or went from one point eight six to one point nine four billion dollars. [0:05:05, 0:05:07]: Total digest. Right. [0:05:08, 0:05:11]: We're doing accurate village rate staying at se three point seven seven. [0:05:12, 0:05:20]: Even with that growth the miller's rate staying the same, the growth in the digest precipitates the debt considered a three point four four growth rate. [0:05:20, 0:05:39]: As required. Uh we advertised three public hearings for the meet for the millage rate. And this is our third meeting. Um the sta the city did advertise four point two five as a placeholder. However, the recommended millage rate, as you know from our first meeting by staff is three point seven seven, pretty much giving it the same. [0:05:42, 0:06:00]: And I know this is not clear and I'm gonna try to get it better, but the way the formula comes out, it doesn't bring but that just shows the digest and the growth in the digest over the last five years. So in twenty nineteen we were just under a billion dollars. In twenty twenty the city topped a billion dollars. Um and then moving forward with the annexation. [0:06:00, 0:06:02]: Um we grew. [0:06:02, 0:06:04]: Pretty much from one billion dollars. [0:06:04, 0:06:09]: From one point three to one point eight billion dollars. And now one point nine. [0:06:12, 0:06:23]: So what does that middle rate mean as it relates to housings within the city for a certain s uh specific price? Um in this chart we showed that a house at one hundred and fifty assessed value is sixty. [0:06:24, 0:06:28]: Uh on the rollback millage rate that we estimated was three point six one. [0:06:29, 0:06:31]: That would meet a house would be [0:06:31, 0:06:33]: Um two hundred and sixteen dollars. [0:06:33, 0:06:45]: With the three point seven seven keeping it the same, that same house will pay two hundred and twenty six dollars or nine dollars and fifty cents, fifty eight cents a year difference, or eighty cents a month. [0:06:45, 0:07:01]: difference. A house which in the median for the city of Stockbridge is right around two eighty five to three hundred. So house at three s two seventy-five assessed value would be a hundred and ten. Rollback would have it at three ninety seven. [0:07:02, 0:07:05]: The present military keeping it the same at three fourteen. [0:07:06, 0:07:12]: That would be a seventeen fift seventeen dollars and fifty six cents increase or one dollar and forty six per month. [0:07:12, 0:07:13]: Um difference. [0:07:15, 0:07:16]: And so [0:07:17, 0:07:18]: Based on that. Um [0:07:19, 0:07:36]: You can see where other cities and I know ever all the other cities and counties are looking at their millage rate as ta as well. Um I know Henry County's proposing to increase um as well as McDonough, I mean of Hampton. And I think Locus Grove is imposing their property tax this year as well. But as of now they're [0:07:36, 0:07:40]: Um three mils, four point five mils, and twelve point seven mils, respectively. [0:07:43, 0:08:00]: So that typical house, what does it look like? And we use the tax map and Google Street map to find houses within those categories. So as I said, that house at 150 appraise. Assessed value would be sixty. At the current area three point seven seven, it'd be two twenty six. [0:08:00, 0:08:02]: And that's about eighteen dollars a month. [0:08:03, 0:08:12]: And a house two valued at two hundred and thirty-four pays ninety-three thousand. Assessed value, three hundred and fifty-four a year or right around twenty-nine a month. [0:08:14, 0:08:34]: two eighty one assessed value is one hundred and twelve six. Um current current millers rate, they pay four hundred and twenty-four, made the correction, and that's thirty-five a month, and the house value to three hundred and eighty one, um assessed value to one hundred and fifty two thousand um five hundred and [0:08:34, 0:08:37]: Seventy four or forty seven dollars a month. [0:08:40, 0:09:00]: Um staff work to kinda come up with our proposed budget for twenty twenty twenty five meeting with the department heads came out with about twenty nine point three um million and you see where we balance at the three point seven seven gives us a equal balance budget and that was the recommendation of staff for revenues projected preliminary j projected [0:08:59, 0:09:01]: revenues and expenses. [0:09:05, 0:09:15]: When we talk about the taxing entities in Henry County, so you have four taxing entities in the county. You have the water authority to tax every citizen. Um [0:09:16, 0:09:25]: A two mil tax, um the proposed tax at three point seven seven for this for the city of Starkbridge, Henry County. [0:09:25, 0:09:45]: Without their if you take out some of the fire tax and those would be around ten point ten point five and the school board um at twenty three point six. And so that represents about sixty percent of a dollar. Sixty cents on every dollar goes to your school board, about twenty-six cents of every dollar goes to the county, eleven cents would be a dollar. [0:09:45, 0:09:48]: would come to the city and five cents would go to the water authority. [0:09:54, 0:10:02]: Next step, this is the the fi the last and final meeting for the adoption of the millage rate. Staff does recommend a 3.77 millage. [0:10:03, 0:10:23]: The miller's rate um will be applied to all properties this year um for the October, December time frame. And for those folks that own their homes, they tend to pay as they go in some cases. Um but there will be a ballot initiative on the November fifth ballot, um which allows for homestead exemptions for all Stockbridge homeowners. [0:10:22, 0:10:42]: And that's a separate process from Henry County. Every resident would have to apply here for the exemptions once it's passed. If it's passed, which we think it will, um, there hasn't been one that's failed in the state of Georgia to date. Um and so that allowed for you, for seniors as well as regular homeowners, as well as those folks who are on septic to [0:10:42, 0:10:50]: be able to apply for a role by I mean to apply for homestead exemption and that application process will happen here at City Hall. [0:10:52, 0:11:12]: Thank you, Mr. Gardner. I appreciate it. Ladies and gentlemen, if you don't mind, we actually have the uh Henry County Tax Commissioner with us, Mr. Michael Harris. So, Mr. Harris, if you don't mind if you come to the podium and add anything else that you liked uh today for the citizens that are present, and then uh we'll open it up to the council and then eventually to the citizens to ask any questions. Go ahead, please. Thanks, Mr. Thank you, Mayor. Good morning. [0:11:12, 0:11:18]: Morning, Council members. Um, just all I would add is um just the process going forward at this point. [0:11:19, 0:11:35]: Um so where we are now, if the city of Stockbridge adopts their millage, we're still waiting. The Board of Education is scheduled to adopt theirs later t later today, about four thirty. Um City of McDonough begins their hearings this afternoon as well. [0:11:35, 0:11:52]: and the Board of Commissioners is scheduled to have their adoption on the 30th of this month. Once all the entities, tax and agencies have been have completed their setting their millage, then we'll complete the digest and we'll submit that information to the state for review. [0:11:53, 0:11:54]: And approval [0:11:54, 0:12:03]: State will have a few days to go through their review process. Um once they finish their review, they'll issue a authorization letter, which gives us authorization to begin the process of collecting taxes. [0:12:04, 0:12:08]: Um from there we begin the process of going in crafting and and and and creating the bills. [0:12:08, 0:12:12]: That's usually about a two week process working back and forth with our with our printer. [0:12:12, 0:12:23]: So usually we anticipate bills going out no later than the last week in of August. So everyone should certainly see their tax bill come in the mail by no later than that first of September. [0:12:24, 0:12:33]: Um, if anyone does not, I encourage anyone if they haven't if we get to the first week in September and you haven't seen your bill come in the mail. We know there's been some challenges with our postal service lately. [0:12:33, 0:12:41]: Um, I certainly encourage them to visit our website at henrycountytax.com. They can simply enter their address and they can pull up the bill on our website. [0:12:42, 0:12:47]: Um so that's always or they can always contact our office directly. But um certainly by the first week of September everyone should see their bill. [0:12:48, 0:12:52]: Okay, thank you, sir. Council, any questions for either one of these gentlemen? Mr. Alzheimer's? [0:12:52, 0:13:12]: Yeah, so thank you again, Mr. Harris, uh, for coming to make the excellent presentation. There are a few citizens who weren't here at the at the initial meeting. So certainly I'd like for you to kind of do what we did last time, which is kind of recap some of these instances, such as uh talk about the frozen. [0:13:12, 0:13:32]: an exemption and then also if you would talk about the uh collections uh based uh on the the school board perhaps is they're doing they're setting their millage rate today I believe that's correct uh as well so let's talk about that yeah just so briefly the um counsel mentioned the [0:13:32, 0:13:35]: frozen provision that that currently exists here in Henry County. [0:13:36, 0:13:56]: Um Henry County is one of a few jurisdictions that offer a frozen provision. Um slightly different than the floating provision. A frozen provision, what that does is on in the year that you submit your application for a homestead and are approved for that homestead, it establishes your base year. So your base year value. [0:13:56, 0:14:00]: Would be based on the year you the previous year from the year you filed for your homestead. [0:14:01, 0:14:06]: Case in point, if you file for homestead this year and were approved, your base year would be last year's [0:14:07, 0:14:08]: property valuation. [0:14:08, 0:14:14]: What that does is in simplest terms, if you purchase your home and applied for homestead in t year two thousand and ten. [0:14:15, 0:14:17]: And your home was valued at two hundred thousand dollars. [0:14:18, 0:14:38]: The county tax portion would remain frozen at that two hundred thousand dollar value. So even though your value may have increased up to three hundred thousand dollars, you are still only taxed on the county side at that two hundred thousand dollar level. So you can see the the the tremendous impact that has from a from a taxpayer standpoint, only being taxed at that [0:14:38, 0:14:55]: At that much lower level. Um, so it's it's a tremendous benefit. I think the county has estimated the benefit to the residents equates to somewhere between 45 to 50 million dollars, obviously spread out amongst the entire two hundred and fifty um [0:14:55, 0:14:57]: thousand population we have here in the county. [0:14:57, 0:14:59]: Um so again it's it's a tremendous benefit. [0:14:59, 0:15:05]: Secondary to that is the school board, while they are not part of the frozen provision, they do offer a tiered [0:15:06, 0:15:14]: Um exemption beginning at age 62. Beginning at age 62, you can get a reduction of twenty thousand dollars off of your assessed value at age sixty five. [0:15:15, 0:15:27]: that reduction of your detectable value is eighty thousand, age sixty eight it's a hundred and twenty thousand. And at age seventy you no longer have to pay any school taxes. So what that simply means based on the formula that Mr. Garden prevented earlier. [0:15:27, 0:15:29]: That assessed value [0:15:29, 0:15:40]: which is your taxable value, would be reduced by those amounts. So if you have a taxable value of of assessed value of$120,000, if you add that exemption for your basic L one, [0:15:40, 0:15:52]: at age sixty two, it would reduce that taxable amount down to a hundred thousand. So you're only taxed on a hundred thousand dollars. Um and again, and that increase is um incrementally at age sixty five and eight sixty eight. [0:15:52, 0:15:53]: Um [0:15:53, 0:15:56]: That is even though you may have your homestead already in place. [0:15:56, 0:16:13]: You do need to go back and reapply at age sixty-two. When you're age sixty-two on January first, you must come back and reapply for that age exemption. Once you apply at age sixty-two, it carries on for all the subsequent other ages. Um and you also mentioned something else you wanted me to [0:16:14, 0:16:15]: Speak of. [0:16:15, 0:16:35]: Sorry, you you mentioned it, excuse me. You had mentioned the date for the uh school board. The county is going to also be uh setting their millage rate. Uh as Mr. Gardner, you said the the school board sets their rate. They 60% of your money goes to the school board, 26% goes to the county. They will be setting their rate. [0:16:35, 0:16:38]: This sh this month on the thirtieth, I believe. [0:16:38, 0:16:58]: The county will be sending their time thirtieth. The Board of Education will have their final adoption hearing today at I believe four four o'clock or four thirty. Absolutely. And what I say to the residents who are here, I've seen the same face as a lot of them here at this meeting for three meetings. Our millage rate from the very first meeting, we've told you that pretty [0:16:58, 0:17:18]: Pretty much we're gonna leave the rip the millage rate as is. So, but you've been to this meeting. How many of y'all are going to the meeting this afternoon at the school board where that rate is being discussed? Now they're d certainly gonna do uh a a proposed reduction on the bonding side. That's great. But the base millage rate has been set at the highest. [0:17:18, 0:17:38]: Percentage allowed at 20 meals for some time now. And that rate has not been reduced at all. So certainly when I look at my tax bill, my tax bill constitutes$5,5200. I thirty four hundred dollars of that goes to the school system. [0:17:38, 0:17:58]: And then about 1,100 goes to the county, and then the rest uh comes to the city. So I certainly would like to see that representation and to see hopefully many of you will be at that meeting this afternoon where the majority of your money is going so you can express those particular sentiments. [0:17:58, 0:18:18]: To the school board. Now, however, as you indicated at our last meeting, Henry County has not, theirs is till later this month when they will do that. Correct. But the proposed budget that they have passed, if it does pass, would dictate that there would need to be a millage. [0:18:18, 0:18:22]: rate increase in order to pay for that budget. Is that correct? [0:18:23, 0:18:43]: Yeah, I believe right now what they're currently proposing is an increase. It's it's it's an it's a decrease to the general fund portion of their of their millage. Um however they are taking some of that general fund reduction and moving it into the um police SSD, fire SD. [0:18:43, 0:18:57]: SSD um into those categories, so it's gonna be an increase on the police and fire um special service districts. So that would there would be a net increase and that net increase is quite significant from what I've seen in the numbers, is that correct? [0:18:57, 0:19:17]: Yeah, so it the way it works out, it would be, I think it's being proposed, it'd be uh about a three mil net increase. However, for residents of Stockbridge, because they're making a reduction of the general fund millage, I think if Stockbridge does opt to um maintain the 3.7 [0:19:17, 0:19:18]: seven millage rate. [0:19:20, 0:19:22]: The school bond reduction [0:19:22, 0:19:25]: Фром три по сі сто е та ту милс. [0:19:26, 0:19:29]: In addition to the general fund reduction by the county [0:19:29, 0:19:32]: Of eight point zero five five down to seven point zero four two. [0:19:33, 0:19:39]: citizens of Stockbridge could actually see about a point five reduction in their overall millage rate. Right. [0:19:39, 0:19:59]: Well see, and and excellent, and that's why I need uh folks to understand who are paying who are here at this particular meeting and know that again, I think in the previous scenario we had discussed is that we started our own police department at 3.77 mils. I mean uh i I mean police [0:19:59, 0:20:12]: department and overall city budget at 3.77 mils. The increase, I think you said, was uh in the neighborhood of four total overall would be like four meals. [0:20:12, 0:20:32]: Well, just for the police would be going up uh I think from two point nine something last year, the new mills about four point seven, just for the police portion that's being proposed. Right. And the city residents, since we have our own police department, that was passed along as special service districts. But since we have our own police department, special service districts. [0:20:32, 0:20:50]: districts um don't don't hit us the same. That's correct. So you would not be you would not that special service district for police would not be felt here for city residents. For fire, obviously it would be because county pla um takes care of the fire services here in the city. [0:20:51, 0:21:11]: Absolutely, but what is the understanding that I think residents need to understand, especially red residents who were annexed into the city, should that scenario play itself out and that full millage, three mills is increased, then net let's start in the police department with eighty [0:21:11, 0:21:31]: 80 plus personnel is actually going to end up in a savings for you because if you wasn't annexed into the city and you had to pay that special service district based on the proposed, and I say proposed increase rate, you would have been paying more had you not annexed into the city of Stockbridge. That is a fact. [0:21:31, 0:21:51]: Act should this pass. Now, they could go back and reduce the budget and not require that three mil increase, but that didn't seem to be the indication that they were headed in. But that's why it's so important for you not just to be in this meeting, but to be in that meeting this afternoon for the school board and to be at that county meeting. [0:21:51, 0:22:04]: I said, well now you here in this meeting and we're gonna leave our millage rate proposed unchanged. They're proposing a potential proposing three mil increase on the public safety side. And certainly [0:22:04, 0:22:24]: We're in support of public safety because when your house is on fire, you want somebody to go and respond. And some of that increases for public safety to for new fires, fire stations, and increase public safety. So that is extremely important to what we're doing here. Now, thank you, Mr. Harris. Mr. Gardner, as far as [0:22:24, 0:22:26]: far as the other side is concerned. [0:22:26, 0:22:30]: See, I was walking in and I was speaking to a resident. [0:22:30, 0:22:50]: And we were talking about the exemptions. See, this is why it's so important to understand the source of any information that you're given. The source of the information is extremely important because is that information that you were given accurate? Now there was a contention made that the city didn't. [0:22:50, 0:23:10]: Did not send out the information on the millage rate or the opportunity for them to have an exemption. Right, that was correct. But the reason that that was is because we needed legislation to pass the homeowner's exemption. It will be on the ballot. [0:23:09, 0:23:10]: This year. [0:23:11, 0:23:31]: in November for you to vote for you to have a homestead exemption. But this council was so pre so understanding that and the information presented to us so well, we set the millage rate at 3.77, which in effect gave everybody the exemptions up front, but we needed [0:23:31, 0:23:51]: The money to secure the budget and the funded. So even without applying for the exemption, because we didn't have it and we couldn't allow it, we set the rate low enough that it included uh it included a reduction that would be equal to or or on so on par with if. [0:23:50, 0:24:00]: if you had applied for the exemption. And Mr. Gardner, you talk about that process behind the exemption and why it will be going on the ballot this year. [0:24:01, 0:24:21]: Uh yes, sir. So um when council adopted the millage rate um back in in the fall of of twenty twenty three, there was discussions regarding the potential for homestead exemptions. Uh and what the council did was move forward with a resolution um to be [0:24:21, 0:24:41]: Forwarded to our local delegation requesting that a millage rate be, I mean a exemption, homestead exemption, be placed on City of Stockbridge taxes. That resolution started legislation that went through the Georgia House and Georgia Senate. [0:24:41, 0:24:57]: Senate was approved and signed by the governor. That exemption includes the overall L one for all homeowners, um, L two for those sixty-five and above elderly, as well as um exemptions for those homeowners on septic tanks. [0:24:58, 0:25:10]: And uh Mr. Aaron, I don't see him here today. There was some questions about the s he's here. Okay, Mr. Aaron, you c okay I didn't see you over there. You stuck Okay, come on up back to the podium if we would. [0:25:11, 0:25:31]: Uh and so yes. So um on as I mentioned in the presentation, um on the November fifth ballot, you will have there'll be a number of exemptions, but there will be one exemption for Stockbridge residents to vote in a homestead exemption on the November ballot. And if so, we will be ready to go applications. [0:25:31, 0:25:43]: already been placed put together. We're trying to put a online portal in place so folks can have it come in, sign it in and then submit their submitting documents you're working there, but the paper documents we've already designed and ready to go as soon as it's approved. [0:25:43, 0:26:03]: Thank you. Then Mr. Aaron, Mr. Aaron is our public works director here in the city. We implemented a sanitation program that was very comprehensive with trash recycling and free bulk pickup and lawn and uh yard debris several years ago. Now that rate is a consumer who [0:26:03, 0:26:09]: who sought that out in the city or outside the city, the rate that we get, they wouldn't be able to get it with them. [0:26:10, 0:26:24]: No, sir, not with the with all the services that city residents receive. Most of the private vendors only provide sanitation service and that's it. They do not provide bulk recycling or yard waste pickup. [0:26:25, 0:26:44]: Absolutely. And that that is placed on the city prop city um uh bill that's passed out through the tax commissioner, but it's not a tax, is it, Mr. Gardner? It is a fee. It is for service that is rendered by the city that is inclusive of trash recycling, bulk pickup, and log yard waste. [0:26:44, 0:27:04]: Yes, sir. It it most jurisdictions have gone from um putting fees directly for folks to pay onto the property tax because it's easier um and it captures most properties in the cities. Um so Stockwoods is not unlike other cities around it actually allow the legislation allowed for us to put um our fees on our property taxes. [0:27:04, 0:27:07]: And so that's why and that happened [0:27:07, 0:27:12]: Think Mr. Alfonso, I think it was back in nine in two thousand and six or two thousand and seven. [0:27:12, 0:27:20]: Um when they implemented it as part of the property tax bill versus everyone coming to City Hall and paying the trash bills. [0:27:20, 0:27:40]: Absolutely. And and final question for Mr. Aaron. As a part of that program, we offer free bulk pickup for items like mattresses and that thing, large items uh like that. That they can have three items a week picked up. That service is absolutely free, so they don't have to call anybody uh if they have [0:27:40, 0:27:57]: these to suppose these items is a part of the service that is included, correct? Yes, there is part of the service. The only thing they ask is that you notify them a day in advance of your day of collection to schedule that pickup. And you can put out up to three items every week if you so choose. [0:27:57, 0:27:59]: Absolutely. Thank you so much. [0:28:00, 0:28:20]: Any other questions from the council for um uh the staff or Mr. Harris uh before I open up for a public hearing for the rest of the citizens? Mayor. You go right ahead, please. I just want to apologize. I've been in court this morning. I had a hearing, so sorry I'm late. Okay, no problem. Appreciate it. Welcome. Thanks. Okay. Any questions down in the center? Gentlemen, are you good? [0:28:21, 0:28:36]: All right. On that note then, ladies and gentlemen, we'll open up for a public hearing for you all to uh express any opinions one way or the other. So let's start with uh the recommendation is three point seven seven for the millers to keep it the same. So anybody is four, uh keep it the same. Four three point seven seven [0:28:36, 0:28:38]: On my far left. [0:28:38, 0:28:41]: Yeah, okay, my far left. If you wanna speak, I'll need you to line up on the left hand side. [0:28:42, 0:28:43]: Anybody in the middle? Four. [0:28:44, 0:28:46]: Anybody in the middle four lane before you line up. [0:28:47, 0:28:56]: Oh in the in the middle, line up on the line up on the left side over here, please, on the left side. My left side. Anybody in in uh far right? Anybody wants to speak four? All right. [0:28:57, 0:29:04]: Right now for s this is four, uh recommendation three point seven seven. Please come to uh to the mic and give your name and address, please. [0:29:07, 0:29:14]: Uh, good morning. My name is uh Jocelyn Williams, one ninety Banks Drive, Stockbridge, Georgia, three oh two, uh one [0:29:15, 0:29:35]: I want to thank the council of the wonderful way we're able to speak and hear and can see the presentation. So I can't thank you enough. Uh I appreciate uh everyone even from Henry County um coming to let us know what everything will be. Three seven seven will help me and my family to go ahead and put [0:29:35, 0:29:43]: Process everything and put our money aside. Just wanted to thank the council for this wonderful presentation. Thank you. Thank you. Sir, please. [0:29:44, 0:29:45]: Name and address. [0:29:48, 0:30:06]: Richard Cook, three twelve Grove Hill uh Drive Stockbridge. Thank you, sir. Um I had a whole lot of notes here for why we had to pay four hundred dollars more in taxes last year. Uh [0:30:07, 0:30:27]: When we I was not in the city at first, I was one that was annexed in and at that meeting it was kinda implied that they were not gonna go up on our taxes and if it was it was very little. But the very first year mine went up to four hundred went up four hundred dollars more. [0:30:27, 0:30:47]: Uh so I was very disappointed with that. Uh and then uh and now we're trying to do another tax, which from what I'm getting from this meeting is that we've backed off on that tax, so the tax will stay the same as uh [0:30:47, 0:30:52]: uh three point seven and and understand a lot of the stuff you guys talk about. [0:30:54, 0:31:00]: I don't necessarily understand. It's it's a little bit over my head. Uh but [0:31:01, 0:31:05]: I can pick out enough to know that it's harming me and as a senior citizen [0:31:07, 0:31:12]: is is tough'cause you're on a fixed income and [0:31:13, 0:31:33]: it makes it difficult to come up with extra money to pay things like that. Uh but I did I do see now where you're doing the homestead exemption that should take care of a lot of that. Um so for what you've said today it's been encouraging. [0:31:33, 0:31:41]: And I'm glad I came back today. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about having to come up here because. [0:31:42, 0:32:02]: I don't know, I just I'm not one of the best to get in front of people and talk. But another the the main reason I came the first time was the notification of the the possibility of a tax increase. And I say that because [0:32:02, 0:32:22]: A neighbor of mine got a letter. She calls me, did you hear about the tax increase? I said, No. So she sends me the letter. So most everybody I talked to knew nothing about this proposed tax increase. So I [0:32:22, 0:32:42]: I took the letter and I drove through my neighborhood and put it in every box because nobody knew about it. And I understand you're you have to post it in like what is it, the Herald Junior or something, or your website. [0:32:42, 0:33:00]: Well don't go out and buy the Herald or I don't even know if you have to buy it. So why couldn't something be sent to us as a resident and so that we can know about these things? And I mean, when we annexed into the city [0:33:03, 0:33:23]: There was pamphlets everywhere in the mail and coming to our house. So there was no hesitation about trying to get us notified. But this tax is just as important as that. And I just feel like something should be sent to the residents so that they are aware. [0:33:23, 0:33:27]: aware of the problem or aware of what's going on. [0:33:28, 0:33:33]: Yeah, thank you. Appreciate it. Come on, sir. Name and address, please. [0:33:36, 0:33:45]: Good morning. Name is Juan Martin. I'm at 624 Armitage Way, North Bridge Crossing Subdivision. [0:33:46, 0:34:06]: Uh I too am quite pleased to know that the uh millage rate's gonna be held at 3.77. And uh I just feel you know that we need to be very creative with all of our tax dollars. As I stated before, I was going on record as against any increase. Many of our neighbors are elderly. [0:34:06, 0:34:26]: fixed income and we're being challenged financially on every side. But I'm thankful for the council. Thank you, Mel, for the work that you guys have done in helping keep the Miller's rate the same. And like I said, let's be creative above board with the all of our tax dollars. Thank you. [0:34:26, 0:34:29]: Thank you. Next next person please. Name and address. [0:34:35, 0:34:37]: Uh good morning. Morning. Go ahead please. Name and address. [0:34:37, 0:34:57]: My name is Laretha Martin and I also live at 624 Armitage Way here in Stockbridge, Georgia. And the last meeting I said something about the time that we are having a meeting. And most of the people here probably are retired and you have working people and it's hard to get people here. [0:34:58, 0:35:00]: to this meeting. [0:35:00, 0:35:19]: Also, I spoke with some of the residents where I live and I s about coming to the council meeting, they really don't have confidence in the council because they say you are gonna do what you wanna do anyway, so what's the need in common? [0:35:20, 0:35:34]: I feel like this when we vote for city council or who w when we vote, we vote looking for someone and expecting someone to look out for the people. [0:35:35, 0:35:51]: In my past, I have seen people over take over certain situations and after a period of time they think it's theirs, but we are you're here to look out for the s first and foremost for the people. [0:35:52, 0:35:55]: Ever since COVID came in [0:35:55, 0:36:15]: And I go when I go to go I just say this, when I go to the grocery store, I can come out with$40 and I have anything. I can look in my freezer and my refrigerator and things are not the way that it should be. Yes, it's a crisis. Everything is going up. Taxes going up. [0:36:15, 0:36:31]: Going up, food is going up, everything is going up. But the people here are because they are concerned about their livelihood. And that's what I that's what I want us to talk about today, is that think about the people. [0:36:32, 0:36:34]: The people that put you up here [0:36:34, 0:36:38]: And it's not a first and foremost it's it's about [0:36:39, 0:36:42]: The people, and that's all I have to say. [0:36:43, 0:36:46]: Thank you. Thank you very much. Ma'am, please, name and address. [0:36:50, 0:36:58]: Good morning everybody. Good morning to you. My name is Claire Kellum, two forty two Hunting Court in Jonesboro. [0:37:01, 0:37:03]: I want to say that um [0:37:07, 0:37:10]: Last week was my first time coming. [0:37:11, 0:37:18]: to the meeting. The first one, uh two ladies came by the neighborhood passing out papers. [0:37:20, 0:37:22]: If they hadn't a cane to my house. [0:37:23, 0:37:26]: I would not have known anything about the meetings. [0:37:27, 0:37:28]: Anything. [0:37:29, 0:37:30]: So [0:37:32, 0:37:33]: I don't know why. [0:37:34, 0:37:38]: How many meetings have been before I came last week? I don't know. [0:37:39, 0:37:39]: Because [0:37:40, 0:37:42]: I didn't get anything. [0:37:43, 0:37:43]: In Mail. [0:37:46, 0:37:49]: When my tax come, it comes in mail. [0:37:52, 0:37:56]: Every year. I get that, but I didn't know nothing about these meetings. [0:37:56, 0:38:00]: And being annexed into the stock bridge thing. [0:38:01, 0:38:03]: Was there a meetings for that? [0:38:05, 0:38:06]: I didn't know anything. [0:38:08, 0:38:10]: So something is not right. [0:38:12, 0:38:15]: Something is not right. So uh [0:38:16, 0:38:18]: It's like what's been said. [0:38:19, 0:38:23]: We are senior citizens. Let's let's be honest, you know. [0:38:24, 0:38:26]: Oh, getting ready to die. [0:38:29, 0:38:30]: Hey, let's face it. [0:38:31, 0:38:32]: I'm almost eighty. [0:38:33, 0:38:35]: Almost eighty years old. [0:38:37, 0:38:42]: My check don't hardly go up two or three dollars. What kind of money is that? [0:38:43, 0:38:45]: Do y'all understand what I'm saying? [0:38:46, 0:38:50]: Some of these people in here probably ain't getting nothing but a SSI check. [0:38:51, 0:38:52]: Gotta eat. [0:38:53, 0:38:55]: You got your utility bills to pay and stuff like that. [0:38:57, 0:38:58]: Property tax. [0:38:58, 0:39:01]: Land and property going up? What for? [0:39:01, 0:39:04]: Isn't it doing us no good? [0:39:04, 0:39:05]: We're not selling. [0:39:05, 0:39:09]: It it could be a million dollars. We're not getting anything out of it. [0:39:10, 0:39:15]: I stand by please. Councilman, I guess we're gonna continue this on. Okay. Go ahead please, ma'am. Continue. [0:39:16, 0:39:22]: Do y'all understand what I'm saying? I'm not trying to be mean or anything. I just, you know, I think I need to speak this. [0:39:24, 0:39:26]: I'm a single woman. I don't have a husband. [0:39:28, 0:39:30]: Do you do y'all understand what I'm saying? [0:39:30, 0:39:35]: Ma'am go ahead just me. Go ahead with your comments, please. Just continue on. So uh I'm [0:39:36, 0:39:38]: На фотос гонку. [0:39:39, 0:39:43]: I'm not my taxes went up over four hundred dollars last year. [0:39:44, 0:39:47]: And I got that exemption, had it since I was sixty two. [0:39:48, 0:39:51]: Been now going up, what for? My money ain't going up. [0:39:52, 0:39:54]: I gotta go buy groceries and stuff. [0:39:54, 0:39:56]: I don't get nothing from the government. [0:39:57, 0:39:58]: I don't get no food stamps. [0:40:01, 0:40:02]: I gotta eat. [0:40:04, 0:40:07]: So please do something for these people. [0:40:07, 0:40:08]: We need it. [0:40:10, 0:40:11]: We need it, said [0:40:13, 0:40:15]: We don't wanna be out in the woods sleeping. [0:40:16, 0:40:18]: On the ground and stuff. [0:40:18, 0:40:21]: Losing out of a house is cause we don't pay tax. [0:40:22, 0:40:25]: And you know that's what'll happen. So is that what's trying to be? [0:40:25, 0:40:29]: Raising the taxes so people can't pay so they can lose their homes? [0:40:31, 0:40:34]: Get real, folks. We got to think. [0:40:35, 0:40:38]: We livin' in the last days now. [0:40:38, 0:40:39]: Thanks. [0:40:40, 0:40:42]: You know, Jesus see all of this. [0:40:43, 0:40:46]: And he's gonna fix it. Somebody's going to hell. [0:40:47, 0:40:49]: Thank you for the comments. [0:40:49, 0:40:55]: Somebody just going to hell because robbing folks and doing lying and doing all God ain't pleased with it. [0:40:56, 0:40:59]: We got to be honest and we got to help people. [0:41:01, 0:41:02]: I'm serious. [0:41:03, 0:41:05]: Do y'all understand? I'm not trying to be mean. [0:41:06, 0:41:07]: But [0:41:07, 0:41:09]: Help somebody. [0:41:10, 0:41:12]: Please do help. [0:41:12, 0:41:15]: Po folks,'cause that's what we are. Ain't no millionaires in here. [0:41:17, 0:41:17]: Mm-hmm. [0:41:18, 0:41:38]: Please, that's all I gotta say. Okay, thank you very much. Uh recommendation once again is three point seven seven. It's not rising and not lowering. That was I opened it up for four comments, four to three point seven seven. So just in case, or anybody against? Anybody against the three point seven seven recommendation? Recommendation it is until we vote. I'm from the left side. Anybody want to speak at [0:41:38, 0:41:43]: That's against this particular recommendation. Anybody in the middle that wants to speak? [0:41:43, 0:41:45]: Anybody in my far right? [0:41:46, 0:41:57]: All right. I see no other hands, nobody raised. Okay. So I'm gonna close that part of our public hearing. All right, on that note. Now, Mr. Gardner, please come back to podium. [0:41:59, 0:42:10]: Yes, sir. If I may. Yes, sir. Go ahead, please. Uh thank you for asking Mr. Gardner to come back up. Uh Mayor, if you would or Mr Gardner would [0:42:11, 0:42:14]: Reemphasize the fact that [0:42:15, 0:42:18]: uh taxes in the city of Stockbridge. [0:42:18, 0:42:19]: Are not going up. [0:42:20, 0:42:21]: I think uh [0:42:21, 0:42:23]: Councilman Alexander. [0:42:23, 0:42:26]: Explained it pretty well about the county. [0:42:27, 0:42:28]: And the school board. [0:42:29, 0:42:31]: Which the city of Starkrid has no [0:42:32, 0:42:33]: Control of. [0:42:33, 0:42:36]: But we just need to make it clear. [0:42:36, 0:42:37]: Um [0:42:38, 0:42:38]: Mm-hmm. [0:42:38, 0:42:40]: That the city of Stark Bridge. [0:42:41, 0:42:42]: The taxes are not going up. [0:42:43, 0:42:43]: Thank you. [0:42:45, 0:42:48]: Yes, sir. Um council Councilmember Thomas. So s [0:42:49, 0:42:57]: The current millage rate is three point seven seven mills, which was adopted last year when the city imposed property tax for the first time in thirty plus years. [0:42:57, 0:43:00]: Forty plus years. Um [0:43:00, 0:43:02]: The recommendation is to keep that the same. [0:43:03, 0:43:12]: Um as I explained earlier, what has gone increase is the city's overall value has increased. So [0:43:12, 0:43:15]: As as your house has a value. [0:43:15, 0:43:21]: All houses and businesses in the city has a value that accumulative value is called your tax digest. [0:43:21, 0:43:25]: That has gone up. Had it gone down, obviously d there would be [0:43:25, 0:43:40]: I need to probably raise Miller's rate. Um, I gave that example of when that actually happened in Henry County, but not only just Henry County, across this country. If you owned a home in twenty ten, you saw a precipitous loss of value in your house. [0:43:41, 0:43:45]: Right, I gave my example. My house was port my house for a hundred and thirty four. [0:43:46, 0:43:48]: In in two thousand. [0:43:48, 0:43:51]: In twenty ten it was worth thirty two thousand dollars. [0:43:51, 0:44:02]: If I wanted to sell my house at that time, my number one asset was underwater. I could not refinance my house because my house my my house was less worth less than what [0:44:03, 0:44:04]: I was paying on it. [0:44:05, 0:44:08]: So your house is your biggest asset in the and yes. [0:44:08, 0:44:28]: That is supposed to be our nest egg. So when we do go into retirement and we can't afford to live in a 1,500 square foot house but have to go somewhere else, your goal is to potentially sell it to help pay defray your cost going into your retirement years. Um so that's the good part. The bad part is a downturn in the economy can affect the values in a negative way. [0:44:28, 0:44:29]: Yeah. [0:44:30, 0:44:40]: Um and so yes, so that was the recommendation is to keep the millage rate the same. But what precipitated it is under Georgia law, if your values go up [0:44:40, 0:44:42]: above last year's value. [0:44:43, 0:44:47]: Regardless if you keep the millage rate the same, in Georgia that's considered a tax increase. [0:44:48, 0:45:02]: Okay, I need for you to explain the notification process that goes in the Henry Herald or things that nature. And it could you explain, uh spound on that in reference to uh that notification and or uh the process of notifying the citizens overall. [0:45:03, 0:45:23]: Yeah, so um we're required to, as all com all communities, counties and cities are required to advertise um if there's going to be a millage rate increase in the local organ, in the legal organ. The legal organ for Henry County is the Henry Harrow. So we're required to do that. Um we also [0:45:22, 0:45:40]: post notices obviously on uh on our webpage letting folks know that that's the case. And this year I think the county handled the mil the advertising for the for the Miller's rate was handled by Henry County Tax Assessor's office, um commissioner's office. Um but that's the that is the legal statutory that everybody has to abide by. [0:45:40, 0:46:00]: So the process of sending out in mail outs is not part of the normal process to do this. It is not, no. It has not and that and if we want to do that as something on the that we the city would have to uh pay the bill for to send out to all the residents to uh along with additional notifications. Yes. Everything else. So obviously well this year's well this is we're about done this year. So otherwise [0:46:00, 0:46:11]: that we're gonna do this is something that we the collector units of council will have to decide if we wanna go forward on this, I would imagine, for the next the following years. Yep. And and there's a way that we can make that happen. Um [0:46:11, 0:46:28]: And the key is gonna be timing because we we all should be under one um well that won't work. Uh'cause you only get the bill your bill won't come to you on a regular basis. Um but uh if you're a water customer in the city, yes you can, but [0:46:28, 0:46:35]: We can put notification on there, but not every resident, almost only a third of our residents are actually on Stockbridge water. [0:46:35, 0:46:39]: Everybody else is either on Clayton County or they're on Henry County water. [0:46:40, 0:46:45]: So it's hard to to get that out without doing a a one direct mailer out to the [0:46:46, 0:46:49]: Фіфтін, 16,000 households in the city. [0:46:52, 0:47:05]: And once again, just uh if you could, in reference to November fifth and and the vote for the additional exemptions um that are that were worked out between us and the course of the legislative process. [0:47:05, 0:47:13]: Emphasize please once again the highlights of that upon it being sort of being approved by the citizens, they get an opportunity to vote on this in November. [0:47:13, 0:47:33]: Yes. So last year, as I mentioned, council um voted via resolution to submit to our state delegation, which is our House and our Senate representatives, um at the Georgia General Assembly for a imposition of millage for a millage rate exemption. [0:47:33, 0:47:44]: That tax exemption went through the legislative process at the Georgia General Assembly, was approved in the House, in the Senate, and was signed by the Governor um of the state of Georgia. [0:47:44, 0:48:04]: That will allow for an initiative. In Georgia, cities are political subdivisions of the state, cities and counties. Um and the only way you could form a new city or county is to go through a through that process or dissolve a county, you have to go through that same process. Um and so we've seen cities created. [0:48:04, 0:48:14]: by the legislature through referendum and folks get to vote on it, yes or no. And we've seen them devol dissolve. So have anybody been here long enough to remember Campbell County. [0:48:14, 0:48:17]: Campbell County used to exist in South Fulton County, it's no longer there. [0:48:18, 0:48:24]: Um you will see Kembleton Road, which is a reminder of, but this that county went away years ago. [0:48:24, 0:48:39]: Um so yes, so what that would do as a regular homeowner, um my age, I would qualify as a L one and I would get somewhere around ten to twelve thousand off of my property tax. [0:48:39, 0:48:40]: Um city. [0:48:41, 0:49:01]: If the legislation is approved. For anybody over sixty-two, they would see an additional, I think it's ten or fourteen thousand off their property tax. Um and then um if you also have a house on a septic, you also get that exemption as well. Um and so that process will entail an [0:49:01, 0:49:09]: Michael could take to it, the city's gonna have to do some additional things to be able to gather up all those information on who those people are. [0:49:09, 0:49:16]: um who those folks are on septic and making sure it is accurate and then they could let notify them that they have that exemption. [0:49:16, 0:49:31]: But that's the process. And so in November, on November fifth, general general election, which is presidential this year, you will see that initiative on the ballot that asks you, do you want homestead exemption from property taxes for the city of Stockbridge? [0:49:31, 0:49:37]: As far as you know, that that has never failed. As far as you know. [0:49:37, 0:49:53]: So be it. Council, if you have you got any more questions for Mr. Gardner or Mr. Harris before we uh before I ask for uh a motion. Just one statement. Go ahead, please, sir. Uh the fact is these millage hearings normally occur in July, right? Each year. [0:49:54, 0:49:59]: Yes, by by law they're required to be held in in uh in in July of the year. [0:50:00, 0:50:18]: Uh Michael could speak more to it, but I know there's a time frame on adoption of Yeah. So th the the timing is by law we have to have the bills out at least a minimum sixty days prior to the due date. So we kinda work backwards from that. Our due date is um taxes due on November sixteenth. So we back up so it has to be out to the public by [0:50:19, 0:50:29]: uh September sixteenth. So we like to make sure we have stuff and lumps cushions. So we have to again going back to the adoption date, make sure everything's adopted by the end of July. So that's why [0:50:30, 0:50:50]: Ever since I've been the last five years that I've been here, we've always done all the millage hearings in in July for all the cities and the um in the school board. And typically the county has to be the last one. Everyone else, all the other jurisdictions have to be adopted prior to they have their them having their final adoption. I think one time we got bumped. [0:50:50, 0:50:57]: into like the first or second of August. Um but yeah historically all the cities and the school board takes place um in the month of July. [0:50:57, 0:51:17]: Right, so E that's what I'm saying. We're working on getting the notification out, but understanding these meetings normally occur in July, so you could kind of focus on that when uh if you're seeking the information as we attempt to uh get the information out to you so that you're aware of when these meetings are. So any questions. [0:51:17, 0:51:21]: Question. How many of y'all are going to the school board this afternoon at four o'clock? [0:51:23, 0:51:28]: Where sixty percent of your money is going. You done came to three of these meetings. [0:51:28, 0:51:30]: Where we're not changing it. [0:51:31, 0:51:51]: But sixty percent of your money is going to the school board. And none of y'all are going to the school board meeting this afternoon? I don't know. Maybe they want maybe maybe we shouldn't really ask'em. You already mentioned that. I just wanna I just wanted to ask that okay, and then uh again to reinforce that twenty six percent goes to the county. That'll be set on the thirtieth, so if you might wanna uh go by there. [0:51:51, 0:51:54]: Ms. Barber, go ahead please. [0:51:56, 0:52:00]: Thank you, Mayor. Um this is not these are not questions, these are comments. [0:52:01, 0:52:02]: Um [0:52:02, 0:52:03]: The first thing [0:52:04, 0:52:06]: To notify residents of [0:52:06, 0:52:08]: Updates and things happening in the city. [0:52:09, 0:52:11]: I thought that we are required. [0:52:11, 0:52:13]: To send out quarterly newsletters. [0:52:14, 0:52:15]: to the residents. [0:52:15, 0:52:16]: I know I haven't received any. [0:52:16, 0:52:17]: This year. [0:52:18, 0:52:19]: Um and they were sparingly. [0:52:20, 0:52:20]: sent out. [0:52:20, 0:52:21]: Last year. [0:52:22, 0:52:23]: We need to get back to that. [0:52:24, 0:52:28]: Get back to sending out those newsletters. Just share all the good news. [0:52:28, 0:52:29]: All the upcoming [0:52:30, 0:52:31]: Um events and [0:52:31, 0:52:33]: functions of the city. [0:52:35, 0:52:36]: Uh [0:52:36, 0:52:40]: that will kind of minimize or eliminate some of the questions from residents. [0:52:41, 0:52:49]: As it pertains to the military adoption, I believe residents deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent. [0:52:49, 0:52:52]: as well as the income of our city. [0:52:52, 0:53:01]: Hence the need to be transparent about the full financials of both sides of the ledgers, expenses and the income. [0:53:01, 0:53:04]: Unfortunately, none of that has been shared. [0:53:04, 0:53:06]: It was shared last year. [0:53:06, 0:53:07]: But not today. [0:53:07, 0:53:10]: Надрин в серии. [0:53:12, 0:53:13]: I believe in good governance. [0:53:14, 0:53:15]: I believe in best practice. [0:53:16, 0:53:21]: I believe in being transparent about our city's finances and being physically responsible. [0:53:22, 0:53:24]: The governing body is comprised of six members. [0:53:25, 0:53:26]: Including the mayor. [0:53:27, 0:53:30]: The governing body cannot make sound decisions. [0:53:30, 0:53:33]: without receiving regular financial updates. [0:53:34, 0:53:36]: This military adoption is too important. [0:53:37, 0:53:39]: For the council, for the governing body. [0:53:40, 0:53:42]: То на хав бен резів. [0:53:42, 0:53:44]: Full financials. [0:53:45, 0:53:47]: So we are basically making a decision. [0:53:47, 0:53:49]: Based on the recommendation. [0:53:50, 0:53:50]: Of staff. [0:53:51, 0:53:53]: With no financial information. [0:53:54, 0:53:55]: I don't know. [0:53:56, 0:53:59]: Whether or not this three point seven seven militray [0:53:59, 0:54:00]: Is even needed. [0:54:01, 0:54:06]: I don't know what the financial status of our city is. [0:54:07, 0:54:08]: I don't know any of it. [0:54:09, 0:54:10]: I'm the only one asking. [0:54:11, 0:54:13]: The council takes the position of [0:54:14, 0:54:20]: if there are only if there are three members of the governing body asking [0:54:20, 0:54:22]: Then staff will move on it. [0:54:22, 0:54:25]: They won't move on it if it's only one person. [0:54:25, 0:54:26]: Asking. [0:54:27, 0:54:28]: I'm the only one asking. [0:54:30, 0:54:31]: I will oppose. [0:54:31, 0:54:32]: Thank you, sir. [0:54:32, 0:54:34]: No problem. Any other comments from the council we asked for? [0:54:34, 0:54:36]: A motion to adopt this. Mayor. [0:54:36, 0:54:48]: Yes, ma'am. I have a a question. Go ahead. Uh no well, not even a question, it's more so a comment. Yes. I just didn't wanna from time time and time again we um we hear [0:54:49, 0:55:03]: the concerns of our constituents. A lot of times those concerns may not be something that we can really deal with, like the economy in general. We all are hurting. I'm I'm very aware of that. [0:55:03, 0:55:06]: I think America's hurting. The inflation's [0:55:06, 0:55:07]: Killing all of us, you're right. [0:55:08, 0:55:11]: You know, we go to the grocery store, we pay a hundred dollars and you get [0:55:11, 0:55:17]: Five items compared to the ten you used to have two years ago or three years ago. So we are hurting. [0:55:18, 0:55:36]: Um and I acknowledge that. I think we all on this council have acknowledged that. And we do have a duty to be financially, physically responsible. Um we I believe that the mayor council have have done so and we all individually do our homework. Um [0:55:37, 0:55:41]: And so be it. But I I do have I'm very sympathetic. [0:55:42, 0:56:02]: I totally understand where I'm a single parent, a single mom. Um and so we are hurting. America's hurting. And um I just pray for our country. And I uh I want to let you know I hear you loud and clear. Um we represent you on a municipal level. A lot of the [0:56:02, 0:56:11]: things and a lot of uh things that were discussed even with Councilman Alexander talking about where our dollars are from that taxes from [0:56:12, 0:56:16]: The the board of education having sixty up to sixty percent, fifty nine percent. [0:56:17, 0:56:20]: And then the county having the board education in the county. [0:56:20, 0:56:26]: All the way down to the water authority having five percent, whether you have water or not. [0:56:26, 0:56:33]: Those things are things that we all have to take into consideration. Um, education and knowledge of those things are key. [0:56:34, 0:56:54]: They are key and we are doing what we can do for the best interest of this constituents here in Stockbridge. That is what I do. And so, you know, I just ask that you continue to support and pray for us. If you ever have any problems, reach out to us as you are doing right now. One of the reasons why we have attended [0:56:54, 0:57:01]: ten o'clock meeting. We also have six o'clock meetings. We had some ten o'clock meetings for seniors who can't drive at night. [0:57:01, 0:57:16]: Or who don't leave after five or six o'clock. I just want you guys to know the reasoning of why we do what we do. We try to be fair and well-rounded. And trust me and believe me, we can't please everyone. [0:57:17, 0:57:35]: We don't please everyone, no matter what we do. If it's a Christmas tree, why you say Christmas? If it's a holiday, why are you celebrating this? So it's always someone that's not gonna be pleased. But we try to do what's in the best interest of our city and what the majority [0:57:35, 0:57:41]: of w what we think the constituents would want. And we do what we do based off of what is needed. [0:57:41, 0:57:53]: We have agreed as mayor and council even as of last year that we were not raising taxes and we did not raise taxes when it was time to and when it was time to annex. [0:57:54, 0:58:14]: There was a discussion that there will be a tax. And the reason for the tax was for the police department that we heard from constituents say that they wanted. That was the biggest demand. You wanted districts, you wanted a police department. When you want certain things, you have to pay for certain things. We also got a rollback from the county. [0:58:14, 0:58:34]: With those taxes. So if you got a four hundred dollar increase, then it didn't all come from the city of Stockbridge. It was an increase because the property values increased. And it's also an increase, we did a rollback so that it would balance out based off of what the money that you were used to pay the county versus what you pay the [0:58:34, 0:58:37]: Because we added in a service from the city. [0:58:38, 0:58:52]: And so those are things and those are things that are key that I think that mayor and council, I challenge each and every one of us, including our PIO officer and everyone here, all the stakeholders, to get to know the reasons why we do what we do. [0:58:53, 0:58:56]: But we're not just here saying let's have a ten o'clock meeting. [0:58:56, 0:58:58]: I don't want to be here at 10 o'clock. I have to go to work. [0:58:59, 0:59:00]: I'm in court. [0:59:00, 0:59:10]: But we are doing that so that everyone gets a chance for an opportunity to be heard. And just as Mr. Harris stated [0:59:10, 0:59:14]: Just to just to let you know, we're gonna it's gonna come out again next year. [0:59:14, 0:59:23]: Every as long as you have a tax, you have to have a hearing, whether you're increasing it or not. And there are always people on social media. [0:59:24, 0:59:44]: Next door, Facebook, you name it, they read it wrong, they get it wrong, or they haven't heard. Hey, we don't plan on raising the taxes. We're not gonna raise them. So everybody gets all excited and up in arms. Thank you for being here and thank you for being concerned. But just know, we have to pay those same taxes. [0:59:43, 0:59:48]: taxes to and I don't want to either. So I get it. We've been taxed to death. [0:59:49, 0:59:50]: I get it. [0:59:50, 0:59:51]: We get it. [0:59:53, 1:00:02]: Believe me, if we cannot pay taxes, I I don't believe anybody up here says, tax me, tax me. I don't know who would say that. [1:00:03, 1:00:10]: So I just want to kind of express those things to you because you never get a chance to see. [1:00:10, 1:00:15]: what it is from this side or what we're thinking and then why we do what we do. [1:00:16, 1:00:16]: Thank you. [1:00:17, 1:00:22]: All right, on that note, uh Mayor Ford. Yes, sir, please. If I may briefly Yes sir, go ahead, please. [1:00:22, 1:00:42]: I I just want to echo some of the things that my councilman has stated and and I think these comments before we take the vote are very important because I think oftentimes, uh, yes, citizen, you elect us in these positions and you elect us because you trust us. But as been indicated, [1:00:42, 1:00:43]: [3643.6, 3646.9]: Uh, there's a lot that goes on. [1:00:47, 1:00:50]: uh in a municipal government [1:00:51, 1:00:51]: Да [1:00:52, 1:00:54]: Decisions have to be made. [1:00:55, 1:00:59]: And if you live in a municipality or or city [1:01:00, 1:01:02]: The operations [1:01:02, 1:01:03]: Of that city. [1:01:04, 1:01:08]: When you see improvements in your roads [1:01:10, 1:01:11]: When you see [1:01:12, 1:01:13]: Um [1:01:14, 1:01:16]: Infrastructure. [1:01:16, 1:01:17]: Sewage. [1:01:18, 1:01:25]: Quality water. Y'all are familiar with the incident that happened in Flint, Michigan a few years ago. [1:01:26, 1:01:39]: So all of these things, you know, the resurfacing, you know, we try to deal with the potholes. Uh we have parks that we try to allow folks to have the wellness issues. [1:01:40, 1:01:44]: But the overall operation of a municipality [1:01:44, 1:01:47]: It takes a lot and there's a lot of decisions. [1:01:47, 1:01:55]: I'm a citizen and I'm a senior citizen as well. I'm not too far too far behind this lady right here. Um [1:01:56, 1:02:04]: But the things that and the quality of life that we all want, you know, in our life. [1:02:04, 1:02:08]: It comes at a cost, and across this country. [1:02:08, 1:02:28]: Everybody's crying about things are going up. Um, I've lived long enough that things always go up. And for 40 years we did not have a police service. I lived in Stockbridge when we did have police service, and that was a tax. When the police department went away, the tax went away. [1:02:28, 1:02:29]: [3750.6, 3753.5]: So as Councilwoman Gantt indicated that [1:02:33, 1:02:36]: There were hearings indicated that [1:02:36, 1:02:42]: The sit of Stockbridge needed that public safety back again. And as you know, [1:02:42, 1:02:44]: Public safety costs. [1:02:45, 1:02:47]: It costs. [1:02:47, 1:02:47]: No. [1:02:48, 1:02:53]: If crime was running rapid all over the city of Stockbridge, [1:02:53, 1:02:55]: This room would be full of [1:02:55, 1:02:59]: Crying, where is police services in the city of Stockbridge? [1:03:00, 1:03:11]: So we had to be proactive to bring that back. And so when public safety came back, attacks came with it because we know that [1:03:11, 1:03:19]: Cars, ammunition, bulletproof vests, all of the things that public service needs, it costs. [1:03:20, 1:03:22]: So we're not just [1:03:22, 1:03:28]: you know, passing an increase in tax as one said, we you know, we have to pay this very same tax. [1:03:29, 1:03:34]: But in order for a municipality to operate [1:03:35, 1:03:40]: There are certain things that has to go into it. And if you want the quality of life [1:03:41, 1:03:54]: These decisions that we are making, it's all about the quality of life. It's unfortunate that, you know, you got gouging in grocery stores and gas and things like it it is unfortunate. [1:03:56, 1:03:57]: But it's life. [1:03:58, 1:04:04]: But we do the best we can to try to make sure if you live in the city of Stockbridge, [1:04:04, 1:04:22]: that you got a quality of life. And I know since January we're into the district now and I've been engaging with folks that are in my district try to give information, trying to work with them on issues, et cetera, et cetera. Someone mentioned before about um the encampments and how it was [1:04:23, 1:04:25]: um bearing on their neighborhood. [1:04:27, 1:04:29]: The city had to come in and clean that up. [1:04:30, 1:04:34]: Now they charged back to the property owner, but the city had to come in and do that. [1:04:35, 1:04:36]: So my point is this. [1:04:38, 1:04:41]: Municipal governments are [1:04:41, 1:04:45]: It's a very challenging time for all of us. [1:04:45, 1:04:50]: To be able to do what we need to do uh for cities. [1:04:51, 1:04:55]: And when you talk about cities, you're talking about citizens and residents. [1:04:55, 1:05:07]: But please just look at your roads, look at um all of your infrastructure, the sewage, having quality water, having public surf t safety. [1:05:08, 1:05:10]: Look at all of these things. [1:05:10, 1:05:13]: All of these things goes into [1:05:13, 1:05:16]: А сити'с Операціона Бюджет [1:05:20, 1:05:36]: And so I just wanna close just by saying, you know, we do the best we can do. We live in this city. What we do here, you know, we're doing it to ourselves as well. I'm retired. So hey, it it's a burden on me too, but I have to bite the bullet. [1:05:37, 1:05:57]: But if I live in this city, I want to make sure that when I walk out my house, I'm safe. My streets, I don't want my car torn up because I don't wanna be hitting potholes every day. I want quality water. I don't want sewage spills all over the city being infected by that. But there's a [1:05:57, 1:06:03]: a lot more and it just I just hit the surface about what's a municipality has to do. [1:06:04, 1:06:11]: And I think we have a really good staff, we have professional staff, and they're out there every day. [1:06:11, 1:06:17]: uh learn and get and train and and try to, you know, provide a great city. [1:06:18, 1:06:20]: But it it's not easy. [1:06:20, 1:06:30]: And I would love to trade this seat, you know, w one of you all one day and get up here and have to make some of these tough decisions. But you're bombarded with [1:06:31, 1:06:33]: All of the information [1:06:34, 1:06:39]: that it takes to run this city and all of the issues um [1:06:40, 1:06:49]: The police department years ago, it was corrupt and that's why it took it down. Just like I say, the tax went away. But if you know anything about crime, [1:06:51, 1:06:55]: We all site six o'clock news, and I think we're fortunate. [1:06:55, 1:06:59]: that the city of Stockbridge is not experiencing [1:06:59, 1:07:02]: A lot of the crimes that we're reading about [1:07:03, 1:07:11]: But thank God that we have a Stybridge Police Department that's proactive. And this is what we're trying to prevent now. [1:07:11, 1:07:13]: Can you prevent crime? [1:07:14, 1:07:15]: No. [1:07:16, 1:07:23]: But you know, you just have to do the best you can do. But I think we're fortunate right now. But again, may I thank you in counsel. Um [1:07:25, 1:07:42]: We're not increasing the millage at this point in time because we hear you and we we are doing just enough to make sure that whatever we do, that this city can still operate. [1:07:43, 1:07:44]: Efficiently [1:07:44, 1:08:04]: effectively and efficiently. And we do this because we are always trying to make sure that the city of Stockbridge is at the top as far as quality of life. And this is what we're trying to do. And I think some of you really appreciate, you know, what you see in this city. But I [1:08:04, 1:08:07]: understand it too that we come here because [1:08:08, 1:08:27]: You know, who who love to pay more in taxes? I know I don't. But, you know, some things just come with life and we just have to do the best we can do. But I just thank all of you all for coming out and we love to hear from you. Uh I I'm I'm I don't feel bad of any of the comments that we've heard. I think a lot of time we just have to be a little bit more [1:08:28, 1:08:42]: uh understanding and a little bit more uh education and I'm gonna agree with um Councilwoman Barber about, you know, the newsletter. And we're gonna get back to that. And I'll just say this too. Th there are other council members [1:08:43, 1:08:47]: asking about financial report because the decisions that we have to make [1:08:48, 1:08:50]: We had to have information. [1:08:50, 1:08:53]: In order for us to make a sound decision. [1:08:54, 1:09:10]: And I I agree with that. But uh I'm going to encourage too the staff to get back to the newsletter because there's a lot of information that can be provided to citizens in the newsletter. So we'll get back to that. Thank you, Mayor. No problem, no problem. Mayor for Tim, very pleased. [1:09:11, 1:09:31]: Good morning again to everyone. And first of all, again, I want to thank everyone for coming out this morning and those who have come to the previous meetings as well. I think it's important for what has been said today to be restated that this council has definitely heard you today. Uh we've heard you the previous days as well. And rest assured your voices are not [1:09:31, 1:09:49]: unheard. And so the actions of this council today will definitely represent the voice of the citizens of Stockbridge, but not just today, every day moving forward. I believe my peers and those sitting around me today, as the youngest member of this council and the newest member of this council, we all come from different perspectives and different [1:09:50, 1:09:58]: backgrounds. And uh me, I'm not a single father, but I am married. But my wife and I, we have seven children. [1:09:58, 1:10:18]: And the same expenses that you struggle with as seniors, we struggle with is parents, college, tuition, clothing, all the things that you guys are talking about, it's not foreign to us either. We're also residents. We're council members, but we're also residents. And we hurt the same way you hurt, we bleed the same way you bleed, and we work hard the same way. [1:10:18, 1:10:38]: Where you work hard, and we want to stretch our dollar the best way we can. Everybody here does. And so we'll never, ever, ever, ever compromise that for you guys. And I just want you guys to understand that there is integrity on these seats. And there are people who hear your voices. I want to get to that place one day where I can apply for an exemption. I'm not able yet, but I want to get to that. [1:10:38, 1:10:50]: get there. So I aspire to be where you guys are because it is a testament to what this country was built on. Hard work, determination, all that good stuff. And so even though we're not there yet, we want to be. [1:10:50, 1:10:51]: We wanna be. [1:10:52, 1:11:02]: And so I just want you to know that we hear you today. These notices that you guys asked for, we don't get that. We're gonna get those things in the mail, in your mailbox. We don't get that stuff. [1:11:02, 1:11:22]: We're gonna get you guys the uh updated information, have more town halls, and get you guys a chance to come out and ask these questions beforehand so you don't have to rush in here and and feel like you've been, you know, misrepresented or whatever the case may be. I just want you to know today, if you don't don't get anything else from this, we hear you and we care about. [1:11:22, 1:11:25]: And we understand what you're going through. [1:11:25, 1:11:28]: It may not be the same story, but we all got one. [1:11:29, 1:11:49]: And we're in this thing together. The city of Stockbridge is a great place to live. That's why I moved here. And that's why I chose to raise my kids here. And so the same reason why you guys are here, this is what makes us great. This diversity across this room. And I appreciate every single person in here, resident, employees, staff members, everybody who does this great work to keep this city looking. [1:11:48, 1:11:55]: Looking the way it does and working the way it does, your money is going to good places. It's not wasted. [1:11:55, 1:11:58]: And I want you to understand that in the staff you're doing a great job. [1:11:59, 1:12:07]: Public Works is doing a great job. Police department's doing a great job. We see it. I know it bothers us. When the m when the price goes up, it bothers us. [1:12:08, 1:12:28]: But we know we're getting it, right? We're getting it. It still stings. I don't ever want to pay it, but you know you're getting it and you're getting quality. And I just want to thank you guys. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being who you are and showing up today and getting other people to show up. Thank you. Keep doing what you're doing and call us, email us, text us. [1:12:28, 1:12:31]: Whatever it is, if you got a voice of concern, I wanna hear it. [1:12:33, 1:12:43]: And I know my councilmates want to hear it. Everybody here is compassionate about Stockbridge. We may do it in a different way, but we're all passionate about the citizens of Stockbridge. Thank you guys. [1:12:44, 1:13:04]: Yeah, thank you. Oh, you have something to say, sir? Yes, briefly. Okay. Go ahead, please. Let me just say this. Right now I want to echo thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Thank you all for those comments because understanding this is a tough job, but and I and I tell people this is that we don't do it for the money, certainly not, because money's not that good. [1:13:04, 1:13:24]: We do it because we care about the community. And we want to make sure. And I say this all the time. I want to see my granddaughter grow up. I want to see her grow up here. And a lot of times we have tough decisions to make. And the kids see things differently than we see it sometimes. You know, some of the times we get shocked and scared when we say, [1:13:24, 1:13:44]: Well, we see an apartment coming up in our neighborhood. But my kid, my daughter lives in an apartment, and I get to see my granddaughter because their new apartment is there. I enjoy seeing her. I want to see her grow up. And because they can't afford a$350,000 house, she can't afford the apartment. [1:13:44, 1:14:04]: They sit there, I see them, and I get to see them regularly. And they told us that per company, you know, listen, when I get out of high school and I graduate, and your grandkids graduate, do they want to come back to Henry County? They took a survey and it says 70% of them said, Nope, it's nothing to do for us to do. I took that to heart and I said, you know what I want. [1:14:04, 1:14:24]: I want to provide a place for my kids that when they're after college and after education to come back and to live and to drive and to f to flourish here in this community. And at the top of that, I wanted them to be safe. The community is safe. You see the two officers back here? They want the finest police force and the model. [1:14:24, 1:14:32]: For America is what our goal is, and that your community is safe. And today, because we did that, crime is down. [1:14:33, 1:14:40]: That's right. Crime is down in this city. And the chief is doing a good job. All of the officers are doing a magnificent job. [1:14:41, 1:15:01]: We gotta understand and take that to heart. When I hear that a hundred people got shot in Chicago over one weekend, and then I see on next door where people are saying, you know, this is going on, they pick an isolated crime and they drill down on that because one crime happened. W the police department is not gonna prevent. [1:15:01, 1:15:09]: Every crime. And as the chief said, our prime pretty much is petty crime, the petty theft, and that kind of thing at Walmart. [1:15:10, 1:15:30]: But most of the time what we see and then any time that we see a unfortunate incident where somebody is harmed, it's normally a domestic situation where somebody got injured upon as someone who is familiar to them, not a stranger randomly coming up and robbing you or something like that. So the community. [1:15:30, 1:15:50]: Is relatively safe, and I will say this, and I'll go to my grave saying it. We made the right decision to start the police department. That required a millage. I would do it again, and I would never change that decision because it was the right decision to set the community on a solid foundation, and it will continue to move forward. [1:15:49, 1:16:06]: in a safe manner. I go to grip my grave with that, saying that decision was the right decision. And we'll continue to do that. And certainly I wanna close that and certainly Mayor, I'd make the motion if you Yeah, well I was gonna go there next, but if you want to do that, go right here, sir. [1:16:06, 1:16:13]: Thank you. I appreciate you all coming out and I wanna set the city millage this year at three point seven seven unchanged. [1:16:13, 1:16:14]: Is there a second? [1:16:15, 1:16:20]: Uh that was m that was m Allen? Al okay, Mr. Thomas second that motion. All in favor, please indicate. [1:16:20, 1:16:21]: Oppose. [1:16:22, 1:16:33]: I oppose and if I could add a comment, sir. Okay, s once before you say that, so it's uh three no four four one it passes. Comment coming. Go ahead, please. I oppose because [1:16:34, 1:16:35]: Not that I don't [1:16:35, 1:16:36]: Think [1:16:36, 1:16:37]: than a military. [1:16:37, 1:16:38]: Is necessary. [1:16:39, 1:16:40]: I just don't know. [1:16:41, 1:16:42]: It's not that I don't think. [1:16:43, 1:16:43]: Um [1:16:46, 1:16:53]: Not that I don't think it's necessary. It's just that the council has not been provided full financials. [1:16:53, 1:16:56]: We've talked about the expenses of the city. [1:16:56, 1:16:59]: But we have not talked about the income. [1:16:59, 1:17:00]: The revenue. [1:17:00, 1:17:01]: Of a city. [1:17:02, 1:17:05]: We've talked about the millage rate. [1:17:05, 1:17:08]: Being adopted originally because of the police department. [1:17:08, 1:17:10]: But we also have another [1:17:11, 1:17:12]: Capital Asset. [1:17:12, 1:17:14]: That no one wants to talk about here. [1:17:14, 1:17:16]: It's the operations of the amphitheater. [1:17:17, 1:17:18]: None of that information. [1:17:18, 1:17:20]: is being provided. [1:17:20, 1:17:22]: to the full governing body. [1:17:23, 1:17:24]: I oppose. [1:17:25, 1:17:26]: We need to be transparent. [1:17:26, 1:17:27]: About the way we govern. [1:17:28, 1:17:29]: And the way we do business. [1:17:29, 1:17:32]: Thank you, sir. I need a motion to end our meeting, please. [1:17:33, 1:17:33]: So well. [1:17:34, 1:17:35]: Uh excuse me. [1:17:35, 1:17:41]: So m so m so move. So for Miss Gantt, second. Second, Mr. Berry second. All favor, please indicate. [1:17:42, 1:17:44]: Morning, meeting and journal. God bless you all. Thank you for being here.