2024-07-19 · City Council · Transcript · Special Called Meeting Public Hearing 2 Millage Rate

--- title: Special Called Meeting Public Hearing 2 Millage Rate date: 2024-07-19 source: 2024-07-19_Special_Called_Meeting_Public_Hearing_2_Millage_Rate.wav --- [0:00:07, 0:00:09]: Ms. Holliday, are we alive yet? [0:00:25, 0:00:26]: Okay, he's he's on this side. [0:00:43, 0:00:43]: Okay. [0:00:45, 0:01:02]: All right, ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to open up this uh public uh hearing in reference to uh our millage uh rate. And so I have uh ten oh five and I'll call the meeting order. And please stand for the invocation. Mayor Pro Tem Berry, please. [0:01:04, 0:01:24]: Let us bow our hands. Let us pray. Eternal God, our Father, we thank you this morning for first of all waking us up and giving us a fresh start to a brand new day with new grace and new mercy. We pray for the city of Stockbridge and all of its citizens today that are here for public hearing. We pray, Lord God, that this meeting will go well, that we will go, Lord God, that you will order our steps. In your son Jesus' name we pray. Amen. [0:01:24, 0:01:40]: Amen. Pledge allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:01:41, 0:01:42]: Roll call, Madam Clerk, please. [0:01:47, 0:01:49]: Good morning. Morning. [0:01:49, 0:01:54]: Mayor Ford. Present. Mayor Pro Timberry. Present. Councilmember Alexander. [0:01:54, 0:01:56]: Present. Councilmember Barker. Present. [0:01:57, 0:01:58]: Councilmember Gantt. [0:01:59, 0:02:04]: That the record reflects Council Member Gantt is not in attendance. Council Member Thomas. [0:02:05, 0:02:25]: Let the record reflect. Council Member Thomas is not in attendance. Mayor forward, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Appreciate it. Council, I need adoption, a motion to adopt the agenda, please. So move. Is there a second? Mr. From Math, Mr. Alexander and Ms. Uh Barber, all in favor, please indicate. You can unanimous decision on that aspect. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a public hearing and before we get started. [0:02:25, 0:02:41]: on the actual dialogue. Let me read you the public hearing rules. Please mute mute all cell phones and other electronic devices. If anyone wishes to speak tonight on a public hearing item, please fill out a form available on the table and hand it to a city clerk before approaching the podium. [0:02:42, 0:03:02]: After each case is called, the council will hear from the city staff, followed by the applicant of the representative regarding the proposed plans for property along with or with 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 [0:03:02, 0:03:03]: [183.8, 189.6]: East side will be allotted ten minutes total. Additional time may be extended at the discretion of the council. [0:03:10, 0:03:30]: Please keep uh comments and presentation professional, referring only to the facts that are pertinent to the case. Will not allow comments or personal attacks toward any individual or group. Please refrain from any applause or comments from the audience during the public hearing. After the presiding officer recognizes the speaker, he or she shall direct all comments to the presiding officer. [0:03:30, 0:03:50]: and never to the members of the council, staff, or to the audience. All comments will be made from the podium, where you will be required to state your name and address for the record. Please note these hearings are not a debate. Failure to comply will cause you to be removed from the chamber and the building by law enforcement if you deviate from these proceedings. [0:03:49, 0:04:09]: Other than the applicant, no person may speak more than once. The applicant may reserve part or or part of his or her speaking time as 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 counsel may ask the applicant to address questions andor concerns. [0:04:09, 0:04:29]: The presiding officer will call for a motion and second to the motion and we'll have a necessary discussion. If the matter is not tabled, the presiding officer will call for a vote to recommend approval or denial of the request. That's our public hearing rules for this morning. And the first item, of course, since the public hearing in reference to millage rate will be a millage rate discussion presentation by Mr. [0:04:29, 0:04:40]: Mr. Frederick Gardner, our city manager. But before we get started, I want to the citizens to know that we have Michael Harrison, our tax commissioner, for here in Henry County along with the staff present. So thank you, Mr. Harrison, your staff for being here with us today. [0:04:41, 0:04:42]: Okay, thank you very much. [0:04:42, 0:04:43]: I'd um [0:04:44, 0:04:52]: Ms. Gardner, sir, please proceed to the Mr. Thank you. Good morning, Mayor, good morning, Council, and good morning to the residents and staff um present with us here. [0:04:52, 0:05:01]: Um today we're gonna do a presentation, uh second presentation for uh public hearing, second pres second presentation on the setting of our military. [0:05:02, 0:05:22]: So as we mentioned at our first meeting on Monday, um Stockbridge is a growing city, uh and Stockbridge continues to grow as a city. Um over the last twenty years the city has added over uh thirty thousand people to its city limits. [0:05:22, 0:05:42]: um through annexations and just through general growth alone. And as we know, those growth comes with the need for services um in and around the city, uh as it relates to public works and specifically as it relates to our new police department. And so those are some of our chief cost indicators as we go through this [0:05:42, 0:05:56]: growth period. So we as the staff have been working diligently to put together a preliminary budget um for all of our general fund departments. Um and based on that we are able to deduct a miller's rate to support [0:05:56, 0:06:01]: Um providing those continue p continue providing those services to our residents and businesses. [0:06:03, 0:06:13]: So the millage rate. So from last year to this year, our millage rate pretty much grew from one point eight six billion to one point nine four billion. [0:06:14, 0:06:34]: Um that is a four point four percent increase. And under Georgia law, um whether we move the millage rate or not, that is considered would be considered a tax break uh tax increase if we don't go to the rollback. All right. Our current millage rate is set at three point seven seven. That was set last year um with the initial uh [0:06:34, 0:06:54]: um tax rate millage. And during that time we had advertised uh a millage last year of six with the understanding that we know we were gonna come in lower than that number. And we came in at 3.77. Um for this year we did pretty much the same not go as high as we did last year, but looking at all [0:06:53, 0:07:13]: The evidence we advertise at 4.25 as our placeholder and under the law, we can't go any higher than that if we needed to. So whatever number you advertise, you can go below it from zero to that number, but you can't go above it once you advertise it. So we said that. [0:07:13, 0:07:33]: Um recommended village rate, which was to keep the millage rate at 3.77. So our millage rate will not be increasing. So the only thing that precipitated the need for our public hearings is the growth in the city's values as a whole. And that growth is not universal. I learned that from our first meeting. So one of the ladies took the city. [0:07:33, 0:07:42]: That came up that I went after the meeting to sit down with her property value actually went from 312,000 to 302,000. [0:07:43, 0:07:49]: Right. So her property actually lost value this year. Um and so that's pretty much evident. [0:07:50, 0:08:03]: Um based on the reason why you see some of our adjacent cities have twelve percent growth and we have a four point four percent growth. So not all of our properties are actually seeing increases, and that was evident in speaking with that homeowner yesterday on Monday. [0:08:06, 0:08:10]: I try to make this a little bigger, but this is what our digest look like. [0:08:10, 0:08:16]: So over the over the last few years, our property values have gone from just under a million in twenty nineteen billion. [0:08:17, 0:08:19]: to over one point nine billion um [0:08:20, 0:08:21]: in twenty twenty four. [0:08:22, 0:08:24]: And based on that we have exemptions [0:08:24, 0:08:27]: Uh we have motor vehicles which came in at three point four. [0:08:27, 0:08:30]: Mi uh mil um miljun dollars. [0:08:30, 0:08:37]: Mobile home which we still have mobile homes here in the city at two million. We don't have timber anymore. I hadn't had that in a long time. [0:08:37, 0:08:40]: Um and then the heavy duty equipment. [0:08:41, 0:08:52]: And then you see when you add all of those up that gives you your gross digest. And then we have exemptions. So there's about forty four point seven million dollars of exemptions. Most of those apply through the county. [0:08:52, 0:09:00]: Um, for home moon is existing. And I'll talk a little bit more about what how that's gonna impact us this year. So our net digest was one point nine. [0:09:01, 0:09:06]: um mil um billion dollars. Uh when you apply uh three point seven seven million to that. [0:09:07, 0:09:27]: Remember you have to do the forty percent rule and then you apply a miller's rate of three point seven seven. Um we should get right around seven point one million in taxes. Last year it was projected at six point eight. That is about a three hundred and six thousand dollar difference. So it's not a huge by any stretch um difference between the two. And that [0:09:27, 0:09:29]: That's what precipitates the four point four growth rate. [0:09:30, 0:09:48]: So how does that apply um to homes across our a category? So a house that's worth uh a hundred and fifty is appraised at a hundred and fifty, assessed forty percent of that assessed is the assessed value, which is sixty thousand. That's what you're taxed on. Once you apply [0:09:48, 0:09:54]: The three point seven seven mil it's two hundred and twenty six dollars a year or [0:09:54, 0:10:01]: And if the rollback is two sixteen, the difference between the two is pretty much nine dollars and fifty-eight cents. [0:10:01, 0:10:14]: uh annually or eighty cents a month. On average our homes are right around two hundred and seventy to two hundred and eighty. That's the median homes in Stockbridge. So a house in that category [0:10:14, 0:10:34]: Uh of two hundred and seventy-five, the assessed value with their tax on is 110. Um the wheel rollback millage rate will be three hundred and ninety-seven. The projected uh recommended rate of three point seven seven will be four hundred and ten, and that equates to about a seventeen dollars and fifty-six cents increase. [0:10:34, 0:10:39]: increase on an annual basis or one dollars and forty six cents a month. [0:10:40, 0:10:49]: And that's pretty much there. Uh currently the cities uh that have millage rate, McDonough's at three point zero zero, Hampton is at four point oh. [0:10:49, 0:10:51]: And I think Henry's at twelve point seven. [0:10:52, 0:10:56]: So that gives you an idea of what if your house falls in that range, what you'll be paying. [0:11:00, 0:11:12]: And this kind of clarifies that for some of the houses around the city and what their um assess uh assessed uh property tax values are, appraised values are, once you apply to three point seven seven, what that looks like. [0:11:20, 0:11:29]: And uh preliminary budget to kinda get a idea. So if we go to the rollback three point six, um that would put us right about three hundred and five um [0:11:30, 0:11:30]: Over [0:11:30, 0:11:33]: uh revenues to expenses at three point seven seven [0:11:34, 0:11:36]: that actually balances out. [0:11:36, 0:11:42]: Um and any higher than that, obviously those other options don't count because the staff is recommending three point seven seven mils. [0:11:47, 0:11:57]: So when we talk about taxing entities in Henry County, you have four taxing entities that that apply taxes to your property. [0:11:57, 0:12:17]: Um one being the Water Authority. They have a two mil tax on all properties in Henry County. So for our residents, some of whom are not on Henry County water, they're strictly on the city of Stockbridge, or they are on Clayton County water, depending on where you live. So if you live closer to the west side of the city, you [0:12:17, 0:12:19]: You get Clayton County if you're in the north [0:12:20, 0:12:40]: East, we're on our west side, which would be straight up Bali Hill Road, that area in there, you're on Clayton County water. So you're still being taxed, a two-mil tax by the water authority for the air services that they don't give you. Um and then you have the city at 3.7 is pretty much eleven. [0:12:40, 0:12:42]: Um percent of that dollar. [0:12:42, 0:12:53]: Henry County is at about twenty six percent and the school board is right at about sixty to fifty nine percent. So literally if you put that in terms of dol a dollar and a cent limit. [0:12:54, 0:13:00]: On a dollar sixty cents, sixty cents goes to the school board, twenty-six cents goes to the county. [0:13:00, 0:13:09]: Eleven cents comes to the city and five cents goes to the water authority. And those are the folks that you pay for tape to property tax to in Henry County. [0:13:11, 0:13:16]: This is our second meeting. We have one more meeting after this, which will be held on Monday. [0:13:16, 0:13:36]: uh at ten a.m. and that's where council will vote on a millage rate, what millage rate that will be. Um staff is recommending to hold the millage rate at three point seven seven. Um and then the millist rate once adopted by council at that next meeting will apply to your properties for this upcoming tax season. But also be mindful that on [0:13:36, 0:13:52]: On your ballot in November, um, which we have a general election this year, you will have a ballot initiative which will allow for you to vote yes for homestead exemption on city of Stockbridge property tax. And that'll take effect in 2025. [0:13:52, 0:13:54]: Um that application process will [0:13:54, 0:14:02]: will be look similar to Henry County's but it you will have to apply here at City Hall for it and we'll make that available um as soon as the [0:14:03, 0:14:12]: The bali the tally is counted on the votes. Um if it's approved, we'll make that available for folks to start applying for their homestead exemption shortly thereafter. [0:14:15, 0:14:35]: And that's the end of my presentation. Thank you, Ms. Garner. I appreciate that. And obviously that uh that vote is is Tuesday, November 5th, if I got the date right. That is correct. Okay. Ladies and gentlemen, I have uh initially uh uh mentioned to you about the tax commissioner and Michael Harrison's staff being here. I now want to also mention to you that State Representative Demetrius Douglas is also present with us. If you want to raise your hand there, sir. [0:14:35, 0:14:55]: Okay. Uh Council, we have any questions right now for Mr. Gardner? Uh we've been to this presentation before, but let me know if anybody had any specific comments before we open up to the public. Mayor. Go right here, sir. Certainly I appreciate the excellent presentation, Mr. Gardner, and certainly we have [0:14:55, 0:15:15]: Uh this a different some additional constituents that we had on Monday, but the presentation is excellent. But I just want to make sure we hit the key points. First of all, the staff recommendation, even though the advertised rate was 4.125, the staff recommendation is to fully fund the budget, we can [0:15:15, 0:15:35]: can leave the millage rate unchanged at 3.77. Is that correct? Yes, sir. Okay, now there I think last year we did the same thing. Uh uh as you said, um we the advertised millage rate was six percent, but we ended up setting the millage rate at three point seven seven, which is uh, [0:15:35, 0:15:55]: what we did here. The staff recommendation was four point uh one two five uh last year, but the council opted to take the lower rate and I made the motion to take the lower rate at three point seven seven because I we understood that there would be no exemptions in the first two years. Is that correct? [0:15:54, 0:16:01]: Uh yes, that is correct. You guys voted on the three point seven seven and at the time there was no option for homestead exemption. [0:16:02, 0:16:10]: So we obviously council back um this early this year or late last year pass a resolution that went to the General Assembly. [0:16:11, 0:16:20]: And the General Assembly passed that resolution signed by the governor to put the pot initiative on the ballot to allow for Stockbridge residents to apply for homestead exemptions. [0:16:20, 0:16:40]: Right. Now when I made that motion to set the initial millage rate at three point seven seven in my comments, I noted that we didn't have those exemptions. So what we wanted to do was literally give everyone those exemptions up front by setting the millage rate at the lowest rate possible in order to fund the city budget. [0:16:40, 0:17:00]: Budget, including uh the new police department, which is the primary share uh and reasoning for the new uh tax that we had to implement last year. So that is understanding the homestead exemption, the senior exemption. If we had those exemptions, the rate would have been set higher. [0:17:00, 0:17:20]: Higher than 3.77 because it would have reduced the overall revenue coming to the city. So the conscious of that, I made the motion to set the rate at 3.77, basically giving everybody those exemptions up front. So in essence, we lowered that amount in [0:17:20, 0:17:40]: And then we went to the skinny side, making sure that we uh could fund the budget, but at the least amount possible. And as we have seen this year, uh I have been a proponent of making sure that economic development drives the city, and certainly we have, and we've seen significant growth, and I think Mr. [0:17:40, 0:18:00]: Mr. Gardner, we'll be seeing those numbers increase a lot with the multi-million dollar businesses that we're seeing open in the city over at uh Jodico and other developments, driving the revenue number, increasing that side, taking the pressure off of residents. Uh the last remark that I want to make is folks, uh [0:18:00, 0:18:20]: understand the rate that we said is at three point seven seven mils. All along for the last decade, if you lived in the city of Stockbridge, you were paying a one point uh one point nine oh four rate for Henry County police. You folks the real didn't [0:18:20, 0:18:40]: Realize you already had a city tax. You were paying for police services to Henry County for one point or 1.904 meals to the county. So for since that time, when we changed over to the Stockbridge Police Department, that 1.904 meals came to the [0:18:40, 0:19:00]: City, at which point we start collecting it now, it shows up as a city millage. In essence, what we did was we increased that 1.09 millage to 3.77. So in effect, we set an additional millage into the millage that you had already been paying for one. [0:18:59, 0:19:19]: 1.86, which basically we ch we did. We looked at every possibility to make this as low as possible, and then at adding only one point eight six to the one point nine oh four that you have been paying to Henry County for the last decade. Now we have eighty six officer, eighty-six [0:19:19, 0:19:37]: personnel in our police department, crime is actually down in the city because we were being very proactive. And I thank the council for taking those initial steps in order to make sure that we kept the city safe and financially sound. So thank you. [0:19:37, 0:19:40]: No problem, welcome. Anybody any other council members' comments? [0:19:41, 0:19:42]: Okay, well, Ms. Barber. [0:19:43, 0:19:48]: Um, I was hoping to be able to take a deeper dive into the city's finances before we made [0:19:49, 0:19:50]: A decision. [0:19:50, 0:19:52]: Regarding the public [0:19:52, 0:19:54]: Regarding the millage rate adoption. [0:19:55, 0:19:56]: That's what I was hoping for. [0:19:56, 0:19:59]: We did not do that deeper dive last year. [0:20:00, 0:20:08]: Um I accepted the three point seven seven milge rate last year as the lowest milge rate. Um [0:20:09, 0:20:11]: Just to get us over the hump. [0:20:12, 0:20:19]: But this year I kinda expected that we would do a deeper dive before the council adopted the military. [0:20:20, 0:20:26]: We have a responsibility of looking at both the expenses and revenues of the city. [0:20:26, 0:20:27]: Um [0:20:27, 0:20:28]: People are hurting. [0:20:29, 0:20:31]: We're being taxed all over the place. [0:20:31, 0:20:32]: With everything. [0:20:32, 0:20:34]: Gas, groceries. [0:20:34, 0:20:35]: Everything. [0:20:36, 0:20:38]: So I just wanted us to be able to look at [0:20:38, 0:20:42]: You know, what's coming in to the city's covers and what's going out. [0:20:42, 0:20:45]: And finding opportunities where we can [0:20:45, 0:21:05]: decrease our budget, tighten our belts, and go from there. Um so that's all. Thank you, appreciate it. If you know the comments then what I'll do is uh it's a public hearing so we'll open up the public hearing for you citizens to respond yay or nay or give you comments here. Mayor uh I think I thought last time we [0:21:05, 0:21:12]: called up to the case. Good point. I'm sorry. Good point. Thank you very much. Mr. Harris, could you come to the could you come to the mic please? [0:21:13, 0:21:15]: Thank you. Appreciate that. [0:21:15, 0:21:28]: Yeah, but this uh ladies and gentlemen once again, Mr. Harris, the task commissioner for Henry County. Um, anything, sir, before we open up the public comments, anything that you need to add into this conversation at all, anything that uh comments at all? [0:21:28, 0:21:36]: No, good good morning, Mayor. Good morning, Mayor Pro Temmon, Council members. Uh one point I would like to add to kind of piggyback off of Councilman Alexander's point. [0:21:36, 0:21:56]: The county this year is considering an increase to some of the special service district millage rates. So that one point nine from previous years has now been proposed to be up to four point four point seven for this year. So that would have been transferred over to the s citizens of Stockbridge, um had they not gone forward with their own [0:21:56, 0:22:16]: police force so the number would have certainly have increased from the initial one point one nine. Also did want to add that um we've been to a couple of the hearings for the Board of Education and they are currently proposing a 1.68 mil decrease on their bond. So the other good news in this is that there would be a slight decrease on [0:22:16, 0:22:36]: The Board of Education's portion as well. So it's um nice to be able to bring a little bit of good news every now and then. But so those are some nice, nice points that we're able to add. So but beyond that, again, always appreciate the working relationship we have with the city. Um work with Mr. Gardner and his staff has always been beneficial, always works well. We have stringent deadlines that we have [0:22:36, 0:22:56]: To make sure we meet every single year to make sure we get the bills out in a timely manner. Um, so right where we are right now, the we're looking for final adoption by the board of commissioners on July 30th. Um, once that occurs, we'll be contacting the state. We have to confer with the state to get final approval on authorization to move forward with the collection of um of taxes. [0:22:56, 0:23:02]: anticipate that being that first week in August. From there we move forward with creating the draft bills. [0:23:02, 0:23:05]: Um we go through that process with our printers, go through the [0:23:05, 0:23:25]: creation of the bill, the review of the bills. That takes about a week and a half to two weeks. So typically we shoot for that last week in August to be s setting bills out and to be sending them out for folks to see. We know everyone has had issues and challenges with our postal service. I would implore everyone to make sure if you have not seen your bill by that first, second week of September [0:23:25, 0:23:45]: Go on our website, henrycottontax.com. You can simply it's it's very, very um user friendly. Go and add your your name or your address, pull up your bill, and you can pull up your bill right from right from the website if you have any issues, or always contact our office. So that's it. Yeah, go ahead, please. Wow. [0:23:44, 0:24:04]: Uh every time you come, you bring some good news. But I I don't want to g glaze over the fact of what you said in your initial comments. What you said in your initial comments was that one point nine oh four was going to increase to four. Is that four exactly or four point four point seven? [0:24:04, 0:24:24]: Is what's being proposed. 4.7. That rate is actually higher than our total city millage at 3.77. So understanding, we started a full-fledged police department, implemented a city millage. If we had not done so, [0:24:25, 0:24:45]: The county millage would have increased to a total of higher than this 3.77 millage. So you see, we're trying to keep it as skinny as possible. And on top of that, the plus side is now we have a full-fledged police department in addition to uh the county side. And I and in the deputy tax committee. [0:24:45, 0:25:05]: Commissioner did a excellent job and you did last year of talking about something that the residents are or were not fully aware of, which is the frozen exemption, which is I bought my house in two thousand and four. When the frozen exemption was passed, my house is actually being taxed on the county tax portion. [0:25:05, 0:25:25]: At that 2004 rate. So it's frozen there on the county portion, not the school board portion. So folks should understand that portion, which is the 26%, is frozen at the rate that you bought your house at, not the school board side, which is the 60%. [0:25:25, 0:25:30]: So could you talk about that a little bit? Sure, and I'm glad you brought it up. The that frozen provision [0:25:31, 0:25:50]: that additional benefit to county residents countywide, and again for those in the city district jurisdiction as well, that equates to somewhere between forty-five and fifty million dollars of savings to residents. And to your point, what that simply means is that if you purchase your home in the year twenty ten, [0:25:50, 0:25:57]: And it was valued at that time at two hundred thousand. Fast forward to today, and that same home is valued at four hundred thousand. [0:25:58, 0:26:18]: You are still being taxed on your county portion at that$200,000 level. So again, you can see the exponential savings that that residents will see year over year from that frozen provision. And again, again, it does not apply to schools, to the school tax that 60%, but for that 26, 27%. [0:26:17, 0:26:31]: that Mr. Gardner spoke of. Um it's a substantial savings. You know, we see, you know, exemption amounts of, you know, well over$100,000 in some cases, depending on what the value was at the time they purchased versus the time what the values have gone on to right now. So [0:26:31, 0:26:36]: So for what the county may be concerned, again they haven't had their their public hearings yet. [0:26:36, 0:26:45]: But um for the past seven years the mill had stayed exactly the same. So the values that were increased while values increased over that span. [0:26:46, 0:26:49]: The tax amount on the county side did not. [0:26:49, 0:27:08]: Um so all those savings were coming back to the residents. However, it was a um the again the overall impact was upwards of forty-five to fifty million dollars of revenues that wouldn't otherwise have gone to county coffers for roads, services, police, fire and the like that did not, but there were savings that were realized by our citizens. [0:27:09, 0:27:10]: No. [0:27:10, 0:27:30]: And folks are looking probably with that quizzical look on their faces. Wait a minute, my property taxes have gone up a lot. But they went up a lot. Well basically, if you're an existing homeowner from the past, the sixty percent that went to the school facility is where the major impact was because they're set at twenty meals for [0:27:30, 0:27:50]: um for the base and then they're set at what three it was three point six three point six for a month. So that's twenty-three per twenty-three some odd meals going to the school system, which is sixty something percent of what we would have. So in essence, and I and I said this and I'm gonna [0:27:50, 0:28:08]: Close my statement by saying this. Every year, this room is full of citizens for the city portion, for last year and this year. 60% of your money is going to the school board side, and 26% is going to the county side. Yet [0:28:09, 0:28:29]: You know how many people showed up at the school board hearing last year? Three. I was one of them to speak out against those repeated tax increases that I knew was inflating my rate. Now, my my tax on a yearly basis is fifty-two hundred dollars. Thirty four hundred dollars of that goes to the school board, about eleven goes to the school. [0:28:29, 0:28:33]: goes to the county and then the rest comes to the city. [0:28:33, 0:28:34]: This room. [0:28:35, 0:28:55]: needs to transfer to those rooms because those boards are required to have three military hearings as ready or as well. So can you indicate when those meetings are so these residents can understand that sixty percent of their money is what the room they need to be in in addition to this room and twenty six percent. And last [0:28:55, 0:28:57]: [1737.4, 1755.0]: that uh uh that would they pass the budget already. That budget is going to require a millage rate increase. So if you need to be in those rooms talking about those issues where and there is a potential increase where we have indicated there is not going to be one here. [0:29:15, 0:29:35]: Sure. Um the Board of Education, they're scheduled for their adoption, millage adoption on Monday the twenty second at four thirty. I do wanna um point out they are proposing a decrease in their mills this year. Let's go of approximately one point six eight. So removing their bond millage from three point six down to two mills, which would be again a substantial impact on [0:29:35, 0:29:55]: on all of the citizens. Um also those that while they don't offer, they're they're not a part of the frozen provision, they do offer additional exemptions based on age, beginning at age 62, you start seeing your, you start having your reduction that increases at 65, 68, and by age 70 you no longer pay any any um school board taxes. [0:29:55, 0:30:02]: So their system is a little bit tiered a little bit differently. Right. Um, but there are exemptions certainly on the educational side as well. [0:30:03, 0:30:18]: And then finally they do who's not aware, they do uh slowly kind of bring that tax down to the age of seventy where it is then removed, correct? That's correct. For residents who might be here. Can you explain that? [0:30:19, 0:30:39]: Yeah, again at age sixty-two you can apply initially make your initial application for homestead exemption. Um and that would be an exemption solely off of the the taxes on your school taxes. Um it's a twenty thousand dollar it it's simply a reduction off your assessed value, so rather than being taxed at [0:30:38, 0:30:45]: a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, it would be taxed at one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Um so that exemption goes from twenty thousand at [0:30:45, 0:30:48]: Um age sixty two at sixty five it goes to eighty thousand. [0:30:49, 0:30:53]: At age sixty eight, it's a hundred and twenty thousand exemption. So you're [0:30:53, 0:31:08]: subtracting a hundred and twenty thousand dollars off your assessed value to give you a much lower taxable value. And again at age seventy, you're no longer paying any school taxes. So um we encourage at every opportunity we have to make sure that people are checking their exemptions. If you applied for your homestead [0:31:09, 0:31:13]: Um if you came in at age sixty two and once you make that initial application at age sixty two. [0:31:13, 0:31:17]: automatically gets recalculated when you hit sixty five and sixty eight and seventy. [0:31:17, 0:31:31]: If you applied for your L one and you haven't come in, if you're over age sixty-two and you haven't come in for that s specific age exemption, you have to come back into either our office or the tax assessor's office. Also you can do it online. Again, HenryCountyTax.com. [0:31:31, 0:31:32]: You go to our website. [0:31:32, 0:31:34]: applications right there is again very um [0:31:35, 0:31:35]: Very uh [0:31:36, 0:31:37]: User friendly. [0:31:37, 0:31:46]: Um but you have to make that secondary application for your age exemption one time. Once you do it at age sixty two, you're you're covered throughout the remainder of it. [0:31:46, 0:31:49]: But Ms. Barber, go ahead, please. [0:31:50, 0:31:50]: Can you [0:31:51, 0:31:58]: Um, you gave the dates and times for the military adoption for the border education. What about Henry County? [0:31:58, 0:32:06]: Government. You have their dates. Yeah, Henry County government is currently their adoption is scheduled for Tuesday, July thirtieth at one PM. [0:32:07, 0:32:07]: Yeah. [0:32:09, 0:32:26]: All right, another question from the council. Thank you, Mr. Harris. Uh you may have depending on the questions and comments that the citizens may have, we may have to come back to the podium, but I don't he'd be willing to do that. Uh Senator excuse me, he's going to be a senator someday. Representative Mitchell's Douglas, sir, since you're here. Did you want the podium? Anything you want to address while you're here, sir, at all? [0:32:28, 0:32:47]: Okay, good deal. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. All right. For the public hearing. I'm for anybody's four. Recommendation is three point seven seven. So if you want to make a comments in reference to that, if you're from my far left side, I need you to line up. I'm line up on that side. anybody in the middle? Uh any po positive comments? Um [0:32:48, 0:32:57]: Could you online on on this side, please? If you want positive comments, we're recommendations three point seven seven for any positive could you line up on this side. I want you all on one side, please. On this side over here. [0:32:57, 0:33:00]: If you're in the middle, please go on the left side over my left side over here. [0:33:01, 0:33:03]: On the on far right side. [0:33:04, 0:33:10]: My far right side, if you need positive comments, comments for recommendation of three point seven seven leave for you. Come on this side over here, okay? [0:33:11, 0:33:13]: Alrighty. [0:33:13, 0:33:14]: All right. [0:33:15, 0:33:20]: All right, so let's get this started then. Ma'am, please come to the mic and uh name an ad uh name and address, please. [0:33:22, 0:33:42]: Uh good morning, Mayor. Good morning, uh council. Uh my name is Jocelyn Williams, one ninety Banks Drive, Stockbridge, Georgia, three oh two eight one. Want to thank you for the uh visual I can take back and explain to my family. I'm for the three point seven seven that uh helped me once again, new to the annexation. I'll be working with um [0:33:42, 0:34:02]: Um Henry County in the back asking them to help me get a full understanding of the uh 26% frozen. Uh and I heard him um say it's gonna increase um four point seven and I'll be at the meeting um on the thirtieth so I can get full understanding. Um my concern is [0:34:02, 0:34:21]: is just as a senior citizen working every time I come to the meeting getting phone numbers and addresses so I can visit. I now have two taxes, Henry County. I know they send one bill, if he could explain that I think one bill comes to me and I'll have to do my um trash. [0:34:22, 0:34:39]: For a stockbridge, I'll have to do Henry County tax and then I'll have to do Stockbridge. So uh I like the three point seven seven but just need a fuller understanding of how everything comes on one bill and how I'll be responsible for it. But I thank you so much for your kindness. [0:34:39, 0:34:42]: Thank you. Ma'am, you next. Name and address, please. [0:34:48, 0:34:58]: My name is Mary Scott. Nobody calls me Mary. Everyone calls me Bubba. I live at one twelve Creek Circle. If that sounds familiar, it's'cause I live next door to Karen Charmaine. [0:34:59, 0:35:05]: And I'm gonna tell you, I came here Monday night expecting to hear that the millage rate was gonna go up. [0:35:05, 0:35:12]: And what I'm hearing is that it was advertised to go up, but it's not really going up for me. [0:35:12, 0:35:28]: because of the growth of the city. From what I understand, in the churn there are fifty thousand new new houses that are in the process of being built, new neighborhoods and things like that that would bring fifty thousand new residents, maybe not households, but residents. [0:35:29, 0:35:35]: Which will help the city get uh the tax revenue that they need. Because you do need revenue. [0:35:35, 0:35:42]: Uh I had an incident that I had to call emergency services for a neighbor not too long ago and they showed up very quickly. [0:35:43, 0:35:47]: And I was pleased with that because that didn't happen when I used to live in DeCab County. [0:35:49, 0:35:51]: Um I've lived all over this country. [0:35:53, 0:35:58]: We chose t here to retire for a reason, because it was a small town. [0:35:58, 0:36:02]: After Monday night's meeting, though, I took a look at the budget. [0:36:02, 0:36:22]: And I uh would love to help Mrs. Barber do a deep dive into the budget because what I saw was kind of incomplete information for the residents. It may be different than the information that you have, but the year to date revenue that or an expenses [0:36:22, 0:36:29]: That I saw in 2023, which affected this year's budget, looked very incomplete. [0:36:30, 0:36:30]: Um [0:36:31, 0:36:41]: And I have a little bit of an accounting background and I know that year to date means something. And when you're in November, you need to have more numbers than you had. [0:36:42, 0:36:52]: So when November comes around and we're talking about the budget again, I'm gonna be back here and I'm gonna be making sure that you're spending my three point seven seven millage rate appropriately. [0:36:53, 0:37:00]: I have one thing to say that's not about the milling rate, and that is these meetings are not accessible. [0:37:00, 0:37:02]: We can't hear you. [0:37:02, 0:37:05]: We are everybody's going mm. [0:37:05, 0:37:09]: We can't hear. You introduced Mr. Harris. We didn't hear a word he said. [0:37:10, 0:37:12]: We can't hear mister Gardiner, said [0:37:13, 0:37:20]: Um we can't actually see the power points from our and I have my glasses on. I'm fifty-five. [0:37:20, 0:37:24]: The people that I see around me, I'm gonna guess are a little bit older. [0:37:25, 0:37:27]: We don't h I don't have a handout. [0:37:28, 0:37:38]: You know, I know somebody else did. I don't know where she got it. But a couple of pieces of paper, even that we could pass amongst ourselves.'Cause I know paper and ink and [0:37:38, 0:37:39]: Printing costs money. [0:37:40, 0:37:45]: But we can't hear what's going on back here. We can't see this and [0:37:47, 0:37:49]: This is uh we can't even hear you. [0:37:49, 0:38:09]: Well, okay, I'll tell you what. I'm I'm thought uh we're up here I've thought you can hear me but no problem I would have thought. Uh we we'll have to check in that particular mic where you're located,'cause that's the most individuals you were referring to were at that particular mic would have to check that out and we'll see ya for the next time, which we h we'll do this on Monday, in reference to maybe additional handouts for folks that are here. We'll work through that process. Thank you. [0:38:09, 0:38:18]: Thank you. Monday night someone pointed it out during the meeting and was shushed. That's kinda shameful. You were what now? [0:38:18, 0:38:32]: Monday night someone pointed out that she could not hear and she was shushed. That's because probably p probably it's probably me. It's probably because she was sta she was making a comment from the audience. It was all right. Stand by one second. Yes, Vanessa, go ahead, please. [0:38:35, 0:38:35]: Table. [0:38:37, 0:38:42]: Okay, there you go. I got here too early to get a handout. Okay, all right then. What other comments do you have, ma'am? [0:38:43, 0:38:47]: That is it. Okay. And I appreciate you listening to me. No problem. Thank you very much. [0:38:48, 0:38:49]: Ma'am, please name and address. [0:38:56, 0:39:08]: Good morning. Morning to you. Um my name is Regina. I hope you can hear me with the mask on. Yep, I can I can hear you. Okay. Um my name is Regina Ubadiniru. I live at two thirty Hillendale Drive. [0:39:10, 0:39:11]: And um [0:39:12, 0:39:15]: Wow, you took a lot of fire out of some things I wanted to say. [0:39:16, 0:39:17]: But um [0:39:18, 0:39:27]: I am um in favor of keeping a millage rate at three point seven seven because um [0:39:27, 0:39:35]: I don't know where this is going as far as going higher and higher. Um, I'm gonna try to be short because my my knee is killing me. [0:39:37, 0:39:50]: I also am in favor of a deeper dive being done into finances. Um some things just don't seem to be stacking up. I would also like to see um to add to that a independent investigation. [0:39:50, 0:39:54]: Um nothing personal, but it's just it's just not it's not making sense. [0:39:56, 0:40:03]: Um maybe others here are rich, but I'm not. And um I'm on a fixed income. [0:40:04, 0:40:14]: And this just um I'm just wondering, you know, where is it headed? It three seven seven going up to four point something and you where does it go from there? Um [0:40:20, 0:40:26]: I think that um city council is lacking transparency with regard to finances. I would like to see [0:40:27, 0:40:28]: Transparency. [0:40:29, 0:40:32]: on every level with the finances in particularly [0:40:32, 0:40:34]: Um otherwise um [0:40:35, 0:40:39]: You know, when time comes around maybe there sh there need to be other people in the seats up here. [0:40:41, 0:40:45]: And um I also want a second, please. [0:40:46, 0:40:50]: Either people speak louder or [0:40:50, 0:40:51]: Turn the mics up. [0:40:52, 0:40:55]: Because it's hard to hear. I couldn't read anything. [0:40:56, 0:41:03]: On the um on the PowerPoint, nothing at all. And um it seems that when people that are from um [0:41:05, 0:41:22]: Like the uh the gentlemen that were up here, it seems that they're addressing you only where we need to be addressed too, so they need to speak louder. And I would I'm in favor of handouts so that we can follow along in case we can't see the power points. [0:41:23, 0:41:25]: And I think um [0:41:26, 0:41:46]: I think that's about it that I have. Thank you for listening to make note of that that the public hearing rules indicate that the individuals speaking, they're really supposed to address me, not the council and not everybody else. You address me as as the individuals running the meeting and they should be loud enough so everybody can hear the comments from individual that is at that particular mic. We'll check make sure that mic is all right and folks uh understand. [0:41:46, 0:41:52]: [2516.6, 2525.3]: Good morning. My name is Suzette Wilkinson. I live at one eighty three Spivy Ridge Circle. Okay. I live in one of the annexed [0:42:05, 0:42:08]: neighborhoods into the city of Stockbridge. [0:42:08, 0:42:18]: So we already are paying an increase because now we're paying city taxes as well as county taxes. And then the notice I received [0:42:18, 0:42:38]: I was built this year$504 for city taxes on top of my county taxes. Plus, we will build$264 for trash on our tax bill. Now we could now you're going up again, and the notice I received said that if your house was valued at$300. [0:42:39, 0:42:59]: I believe it was$350,000. That's a$79 increase per year, on top of the$504 increase plus another$100 and something increase for the trash. As the lady stated, I'm on a fixed income. That's a lot for me in one year. [0:42:59, 0:43:00]: Yeah. [0:43:01, 0:43:09]: And w it was supposed to have been I had came once before, it was supposed to have been addressed about the trash, but no one ever got back to me about it. [0:43:10, 0:43:16]: It's it's a hardship for a lot of people in my subdivision. [0:43:16, 0:43:20]: It's we we're being hit kind of hard all in one year. [0:43:23, 0:43:25]: Thank you. Okay. [0:43:26, 0:43:46]: I'm taking note of this and we'll address these in just a bit. So that's four. Anybody that's against the three the recommended three point seven seven? Anybody against that? All right, from the far left, if you can line up. From the far left. Anybody against the three recommended three point seven seven? Anybody in the middle that's against the three point seven seven recommendation? Anybody on this side uh against the three point seven seven recommendation? [0:43:46, 0:43:55]: All right. Seeing none. All right. Mr Gardner, please come back to the podium. And uh Mr Harris, if you don't mind, could you come back as well, sir? [0:43:56, 0:43:57]: Wow. [0:44:00, 0:44:13]: All right, so f one of my first things I wrote down, I guess in a sense the the balance between Henry County tax and uh data and stubborn's tax data, the uh explanation of the bills, if you can maybe expound a little further on that for clarification, might be helpful. [0:44:14, 0:44:34]: All right, sir. And and please speak into the mic, sir, make sure it's on. This is good enough. I don't want to put it in my mouth. Okay. But no. Um the difference between the city and the question comes up that some folks are thinking that about the two different types of bills and taxes and trying to get a clarification of the [0:44:34, 0:44:45]: So as a resident of Stockbridge, um everyone pays taxes to [0:44:45, 0:44:53]: the school board to the city, now if you're in the city to unincorporated Henry County and to the water authority. [0:44:53, 0:44:56]: Um that bill and Michael could speak to it. [0:44:56, 0:45:00]: is one bill that comes to every homeowner and it's outline [0:45:00, 0:45:20]: who gets what what exemptions you have, it's outlined on the bill. Um as it relates for the city of Stockbridge, we we charge our sanitation on our tax bill. Um that start that started back in two thousand in seven or six [0:45:20, 0:45:32]: Um the city started doing that but because the city used to used to be able to pay your taxes at City Hall. And apparently there were some issues years ago where residents were being I think they were locked up. [0:45:33, 0:45:53]: um were being arrested for not paying that their sanitation bills. And so the city city moved to literally put it on the tax bill years ago and a lot of communities have done that. Um that way you have one payment rather than having a quarterly payment if you were doing somewhere else. Um you pretty much pay on a quarterly basis. Um [0:45:53, 0:46:10]: So that's the unified bill that you get with your tax and your sanitation. And so yes, you pay for city services. And I think as um Mr. Alexander said, um everyone in Henry County, including the cities, um, were unless you were the city of McDonough. [0:46:10, 0:46:13]: Locus Grove and Hampton that had their own police service. [0:46:13, 0:46:27]: Um, I'm not sure if they were exempt, but I think everybody was paying the one point oh nine. So that was being paid for um already and the one point eight six was added on top of that, and that's how you got to the three point seven seven number. [0:46:29, 0:46:33]: Only thing I would add, yeah, so there is a very clear distinction between [0:46:33, 0:46:35]: The taxes [0:46:35, 0:46:55]: And there are taxes and fees that are shown on the bill. You know, so what you will see is a county portion of the tax. And within that there are special service districts included as well. Um that would include fire, so citizens and residents of City of Stockbridge also pay a special service district tax. [0:46:55, 0:46:59]: to the county for providing that fire service. Um recreation is another one. [0:47:00, 0:47:02]: Um then separate aside from that, then you have your [0:47:02, 0:47:11]: city of Stockbridge tax. After that you have a series of fees and that may include sanitation, stormwater, street lights, if that's on the bill this year as well. [0:47:12, 0:47:17]: Um so for those things and w we make it very clear on our we've changed up our bill. Um [0:47:17, 0:47:19]: Uh, Miss Cardi and her team last year did a great job of [0:47:20, 0:47:40]: re redesigning our tax bill to make it very clear. So if you have a question in reference to your stormwater fees, there's a phone number to call. If you have a question in reference to city taxes, there's a phone number to call. For and same for um likewise for your your county taxes. But there is a distinction between those that are taxes and those that are fees. We have [0:47:40, 0:47:42]: Yeah, as Mr. Gardner's um stated. [0:47:42, 0:47:53]: took this step to make sure we consolidate everything onto one bill so everyone has all the information at one at their fingertips. The bill you'll see this year, it'll have the bill with all the what's due. [0:47:53, 0:47:55]: On the front side, on the back side. [0:47:55, 0:47:58]: Rather than having just a blank space, we added a um [0:47:59, 0:48:01]: An entire sheet of information. [0:48:01, 0:48:21]: That speaks to the type of homestead exemptions that are allowable and gives all the j general information on who to call, how to contact, if and it answers a lot of the FAQs that of the questions that we get specific to our tax bill. So um again, we redesigned it last year and we think it's been uh got a lot of good um feedback on the information. [0:48:21, 0:48:22]: Yeah. [0:48:23, 0:48:43]: Thank you, sir. On that note, uh South Bridge is roughly about thirty six thousand people and of course during the course of we've been we collectively as a group, as a council have been improving some communities, annexations um have been going on here in the last several years and planning to continue to grow and and get s larger, I guess you may say. So who knows? fifty three [0:48:43, 0:48:50]: thousand people may come several years from now if if if we continue this pace. But I don't know, Mr. Gardner, anything you can expound on that at all, sir? [0:48:51, 0:48:55]: About the growth, um, I will say that I think like the resident said [0:48:56, 0:48:58]: Uh most of us move here from somewhere else. [0:48:59, 0:49:03]: Um we made Stockbridge home. We were part of the growth. [0:49:03, 0:49:04]: In Henry County. [0:49:05, 0:49:05]: Right. [0:49:06, 0:49:15]: Um, I always play a trick with with folks and I ask, does anybody know when there were more people living in the city of Griffin than in the entire Henry County? How long ago was that? [0:49:16, 0:49:17]: That was nineteen seventy. [0:49:18, 0:49:26]: And Griffin's population has always been around twenty-four, twenty-three thousand people. So there were less than twenty-three thousand people living in this entire county. [0:49:27, 0:49:27]: Right. [0:49:28, 0:49:29]: About forty years ago. [0:49:29, 0:49:36]: So everybody who's moved here has contributed to the growth, has contributed to the growth in the schools and the growth in development. [0:49:36, 0:49:39]: And we continue to grow as a county and as a sity. [0:49:39, 0:49:40]: Um [0:49:40, 0:50:00]: All right, and all of us are have taking part in um the growth. We will continue we're continuing to grow as you guys know. There are developments being approved. Um, but if those developments weren't approved, none of us would be here. We would be somewhere else. Right? Um, but Henry County is a prime location, 675. [0:50:00, 0:50:08]: 75 split right here. We're less than 10 miles from Hotfield Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world. [0:50:09, 0:50:12]: Um we are part of the biggest metropolitan [0:50:12, 0:50:32]: productive metropolitan area in the southeast United States. And that still will hold us ahead of Charlotte. Um but that's where we choose to live and a lot of folks see this as a wonderful place. We don't have a lot of storms, hurricanes and tornadoes per se. So or earthqu earthquakes. So we are a prime location. Um [0:50:32, 0:50:39]: Um for folks to move to in the southeast. And so the city and the county will continue to grow in the forf foreseeable future and we have to prepare for that growth. [0:50:40, 0:50:56]: Okay, Mr. Gardner, how about um further explan uh give an explanation in reference to our our calendar year versus our budget year, which is the same same there? Budget process, things of that nature for some clarification here, sir. So our budget is adopted um [0:50:56, 0:51:00]: is on a calendar year which starts January to December. [0:51:00, 0:51:01]: Right. [0:51:01, 0:51:04]: Every community that I've worked in and the few states I've worked in. [0:51:04, 0:51:07]: Um if they're on a fiscal year. [0:51:07, 0:51:21]: They budget starts July one. That's the county. Um their budget starts July one and June thirtieth. But when they adopt that budget, they have no clue to some degree, it's a guess of what the millet rate [0:51:21, 0:51:25]: uh what the military they're gonna say to that or will it be you know go to go through [0:51:26, 0:51:27]: Um the dates [0:51:28, 0:51:32]: Um correct me if I'm wrong, Michael, the July date is statutory by state law. [0:51:33, 0:51:35]: Right? We have no control over that date. [0:51:36, 0:51:42]: Right. The good in us is that we adopt our budget, restart our budget two months earlier. [0:51:43, 0:51:43]: Right. [0:51:43, 0:51:46]: Usually folks start a budget six months out. [0:51:47, 0:51:48]: Right. And they start working on it. [0:51:49, 0:52:09]: Retend to or since I've been here, give you a budget in August. Actually, last year y'all got a full budget in July. Right? Um, right after we knew what the millish rate was gonna be, could then you can now look at tweaking your expenses to what you know what your revenues will be versus then guessing it to some degree. And there's still some guessing there because [0:52:09, 0:52:11]: Yeah. [0:52:11, 0:52:13]: Right, so it's not gonna be a full one hundred percent. [0:52:14, 0:52:34]: But that's the good that's the good in the process we have is that we can start making the adjustments as necessary. But we give a preliminary budget. And the budget is not for this year, it's for next year. Um but yes, um that's the the kind of benefit we have. I think Hampton is October. I think their budget is adopted in October. [0:52:34, 0:52:43]: October I think it is. They're on our October budget, kinda like the federal government. Um, McDonough is June June to July and I think Locus Grove is June to July. [0:52:44, 0:52:55]: All right, thank you. All right. Mayor. Yes, sir. Go ahead. You got the questions? Go ahead. Yeah, I could this is what I wanna do. I I wanna respond to your question, ma'am. I do Mr Aaron, can you come to the podium? [0:53:05, 0:53:21]: As the tax commissioner said, the sanitation is a fee. It is not uh a tax. Certainly, we implemented um sanitation services several years ago, which include trash, recycling, and bulk pickup, correct? [0:53:21, 0:53:41]: Yes, sir. And yard waste as well. And yard waste as well. Now, if someone went on the open market and they tried to get the rate that we get from GFL, would they be able to get it as an individual homeowner? Not for all of the uh things that they pick up. Most people, if they had a lower rate, they just only had garbage. They didn't have a lot of [0:53:41, 0:53:47]: people on the independent market do not have bulk waste recycling or yard waste as part of their sanitation package. [0:53:47, 0:54:07]: Right. And we've been able to get a basically w our rate is lower because we're a bulk, we're a collective working together. So the rate that we get is a lower rate than the consumer would be able to get and the rate increases that the consumers have been seeing, the exponential ones, we haven't been seeing those. We've seen some increases but we have not [0:54:07, 0:54:21]: and we have not passed them directly along to the consumer. A couple of years I know you said yourself we can't keep absorbing these increases cause we absorb the increases as the city. Is that correct? [0:54:21, 0:54:39]: Yes, most sanitation companies have an increase based on the CPI, which is the consumer price index. So whenever that increases, most companies typically go along with that increase. Like last year was five percent. And so most sanitation services, including [0:54:39, 0:54:59]: GFAL to the city increased their rates by five percent, but we did not increase our rates. Absolutely, and certainly this council has tried to tighten our belt uh in those areas. But certainly, uh hopefully we're trying to leave the planet in a better situation so we implemented the recycling. I hope everybody out there is trying to take advantage of. [0:54:59, 0:55:19]: Of the bi or weekly recyc recycling to keep uh extra bottles and plastics outside of our dumpster area. But the one area that people generally miss is the free bulk pickup. Talk about that. That is a component where you don't have to call somebody to come pick up that old mattress or to pick up [0:55:19, 0:55:39]: Up uh some items you can actually call and schedule a pickup by GFL and it's uh a complementary based on the city, correct? Yes, sir. Uh it allows each residence to put out up to three items per week for collection, and I think a lot of people like it when they come to like spring and fall cleaning that they can clean out the garage. [0:55:39, 0:55:59]: Garage or home and items. Also, there's an option if you want to collect everything at one time, you pay GFL a fee for that. But typically it's three items per week. And you could do multiple weeks. We have residents call in, they might have 15 items, so we schedule them for five weeks. [0:55:59, 0:56:02]: Every week until all of that is gone, they put out those items. [0:56:03, 0:56:13]: Absolutely. And her and Mayor's secondary question was, uh everything happening in all one year? And the tax commissioner made an excellent point previously. [0:56:14, 0:56:34]: If what the county has proposed is passed, then what would happen is you would actually have been paying more taxes this year had we not implemented the police department and the extra services that you're receiving on uh sanitation. So it is fortunate that we did. [0:56:34, 0:56:54]: Do what we did because that 3.77 is lower than what would have occurred otherwise. So it's actually based on the numbers that we were given today, were actually lower, your taxes will actually be lower in this scenario versus if you had not been uh annexed into the city because they were uh that that [0:56:54, 0:57:14]: That rate is going to go up uh if that uh does pass based on what we have seen in terms of these numbers. Uh thank you, Mr. Aaron, I appreciate that. Now, the city manager, I have a couple of questions for you as well. The city of Stockbridge has a yearly audit that takes place. [0:57:14, 0:57:34]: Every year. Our auditor is Malden and Jenkins. Malden Jenkins edit audits the city finances. They give you a report for the city finances, which you turn over to the council. That has been the practice. Our auditor, auditor Malden and Jenkins, audits 300 plus cities in the state of Georgia. [0:57:34, 0:57:54]: Georgia, we were one of those, and has significantly indicated to us certainly that the city's finances were uh uh in in good shape. Certainly, and I'll say this to you residents, and I'll look every one of y'all in the eye. The city wasn't spending enough money in the past, and that's why it looked the way that you [0:57:54, 0:58:14]: see on North Henry Boulevard. We started to spend more money. I hope you see the difference. I hope you see the difference in what your downtown area looks like. I hope you see the difference in what Rock Quarry Road looks like, what Jodico looks like, what Highway 138 looks like, when the litter is picked up and the city has done [0:58:14, 0:58:34]: to implement the programs that we've implemented like at Jodico, the amphitheater that we built, we have spent money because we knew that the residents wanted better in their community. So you would not have to leave the city to shop, to work, to eat. All of those things, some of those things should have been right here in our community. [0:58:34, 0:58:40]: We're not gonna bring them all here, but certainly we wanted to live and have a higher quality of life. [0:58:41, 0:59:01]: The one thing that we got in the report that we received said the in this general area in downtown, the average age of the homes were built in 1966. I said that again. The average age of the homes built were in 1966. The lifeblood of any community is new construction. [0:59:01, 0:59:21]: And to bring in folks in order to uh in in order to and raise our level of maintenance in the city, we did have to spend more money. We brought in Mr. Knighton first and then we brought in Mr. Gartner, two excellent seasoned city managers to be able to chart the course for us because we don't manage [0:59:20, 0:59:40]: day-to-day operations the staff does as professionals. Now certainly there's always a case to be made where there is there may be some waste or there may be some things that might need be need to be able to be cut. But let me say I have full confidence in the city manager and the job that they're doing in our financials. [0:59:40, 1:00:00]: Because they do what's necessary. And then when Malden and Jenkin comes and they report to us on what the city budget looks like, there are people all over this state who are envious of the position that we find ourselves in financially and the being able to do the things that we've been able to do. So I stand behind the offer. [1:00:00, 1:00:20]: audit and I certainly protest that there's a lot of misinformation and there's a lot of questions being raised about this or that. You know, I look at it when I turn to that other cable news channel and all I hear is a bunch of questions all the time. I haven't seen anybody point to a specific thing that says this has been [1:00:20, 1:00:40]: Misappropriated, that's been misappropriated, or one cent has been spent in any direction. If it is, I'll open my eyes to it, I'll see it. But I look at the city audit, and the auditor comes in and places a stamp on the city budget every single year. They know anything that is of obsession, and that is the process. [1:00:40, 1:00:58]: that we have followed as a city. That is something that I want the residents to understand is that we go through that process. And Mr Mr. Gardner, I want you to mention, talk about that in the uh audit process for the city that we go through every single year. [1:00:59, 1:01:15]: Yes, sir. Um you pretty much said everything. Um the audit every city um is required to have an annual independent audit, which the city of Stockbridge participates in. Um when Michael was here, I think Molden and Jenkins was here as well. [1:01:15, 1:01:17]: When Michael was here, city manager. [1:01:17, 1:01:20]: Um it is a process that all the cities go through. [1:01:21, 1:01:22]: Um [1:01:22, 1:01:28]: as it relates to overseeing how um revenues and expenditures are taken in and and expended. [1:01:28, 1:01:30]: And to make sure that they're all done in [1:01:30, 1:01:33]: in concurrent with gap [1:01:33, 1:01:36]: And I think that name has changed now, um, policies. [1:01:37, 1:01:40]: And at the end they they give you uh [1:01:40, 1:01:45]: areas where you can make changes and that's every city that pretty much gets um [1:01:45, 1:01:48]: they'll get what we call a ding to change certain things you're doing. [1:01:49, 1:01:50]: Um [1:01:50, 1:02:01]: But at the end I I think the city's audits have all been found to be worthy and clean outside of that. Um yes, the city had a huge fund balance and you guys came in. [1:02:02, 1:02:05]: Some folks say you shouldn't hoard beyond three months. [1:02:06, 1:02:06]: Um [1:02:07, 1:02:09]: I think the city had at the time probably. [1:02:10, 1:02:17]: Two years worth of violence. They were just sitting in sitting there and obviously you guys have built things around the downtown area. [1:02:17, 1:02:20]: Um to bring some things into the to fruition here. [1:02:21, 1:02:23]: Um, but as you can tell, I mean [1:02:23, 1:02:25]: The downtown is still not where it should be. [1:02:26, 1:02:26]: I mean [1:02:27, 1:02:35]: That's that's the dune it hole in this community. If you go to McDonough, you see growth all around McDonough, but you see growth in its downtown. [1:02:35, 1:02:37]: Everybody goes to the square to have fun. [1:02:38, 1:02:39]: Nobody comes here to have fun. [1:02:40, 1:02:43]: Right. I've lived here for twenty four years, almost twenty-five. [1:02:43, 1:02:46]: There's never been a place for me to come downtown to enjoy. [1:02:47, 1:02:49]: If I wanted, I went to somebody else's downtown. [1:02:50, 1:02:51]: Um [1:02:51, 1:02:56]: Чиказ нахіє, со інодес аб'ен. [1:02:56, 1:02:58]: To try to bring life down here. [1:02:59, 1:03:04]: Um, as I mentioned to this council, the problem is the we're missing the private sector. [1:03:04, 1:03:23]: Right. If you go to Dunwoody, if you go to D Cater, if you go to Sugar Hill, if you go to Swanney, Smyrna, any of these other communities, you see that there's private investments coming into their downtown to help build and revitalize. That also helps you from a fiscal standpoint, right? [1:03:24, 1:03:34]: Um one of the other things that that report said was the housing in our downtown area are below not only Henry County in value, but below the state in value. [1:03:35, 1:03:35]: Right. [1:03:36, 1:03:40]: So a house of twenty one ta twenty one hundred сквер фут. [1:03:41, 1:03:44]: On a acre and a half is only valued at a hundred and [1:03:44, 1:03:45]: Eighty. [1:03:46, 1:03:47]: Two hundred thousand. [1:03:48, 1:03:52]: But you take that same house and you put it on Nordroot Hills, it's a miljon dollar house. [1:03:53, 1:03:55]: So that tells you something. [1:03:55, 1:03:56]: Right. [1:03:56, 1:03:58]: The the house is underperforming. [1:03:58, 1:04:06]: Um the area is underperforming and that's been the area not downtown. But as you mentioned, everything you said is is is true. [1:04:07, 1:04:27]: And lastly, again, let's I just want you to make sure you state that again. For the record, the audit for the city for this last calendar year was uh it was a good audit. And as it has been uh the since I've been on this council, I don't think we've had a bad audit to my recollection. [1:04:27, 1:04:32]: section uh or do you recall one or just your state your tenure here the audit has been good. [1:04:33, 1:04:41]: Yes, sir. And no different than any other audits. Like I said, you're gonna get comments. Every city's gotten comments. I think with Mike here they probably had comments as well. [1:04:41, 1:04:43]: Um you're gonna get those, but [1:04:43, 1:04:48]: Um for the most part it says everything is good. Um [1:04:49, 1:04:58]: I don't know of any theories or underhanded or illegal stuff going on. That's not happening here. Um I'm not an illegal person. I've been doing this job [1:04:58, 1:05:04]: for thirty years and I've never been found guilty of stealing money or misappropriating any money. I I don't do that. [1:05:04, 1:05:05]: Um [1:05:06, 1:05:13]: But no. Everything, you know, can we make improvements in everything we do? That's everybody. [1:05:14, 1:05:21]: Right? There is no perfect person. There is no perfect thing. I always tell folks the smartest people in this country is NASA. [1:05:22, 1:05:24]: And we didn't kill two shuttles worth of astronauts. [1:05:25, 1:05:26]: Right? No one's perfect. [1:05:27, 1:05:43]: But yes, we all have room for improvements and some of the comments made, yes. We c we can look at things different, look at things with a different set of eyes. Yes, you'll find anybody'll find improvements in anything we do. Somebody else look at it, they can find improvements. That's just natural. [1:05:43, 1:05:44]: cause of action. [1:05:45, 1:05:50]: But on the basis of our audits have been clear um been clear, considered clear. [1:05:50, 1:05:54]: But there have been areas where we can make improvements. That has been the case. [1:05:54, 1:05:55]: We're not perfect. [1:05:55, 1:06:15]: Right, sir. I'll say thank you for that. And again, I appreciate your comments and that we look forward to the twenty twenty five budget being presented to us. And I would ask that you would do as as been as been described, that you would look at the budget as you already do and take a deeper dive uh as you prepare the twenty twenty-five budget. [1:06:15, 1:06:18]: budget and prepare us to finish this year. [1:06:18, 1:06:27]: Yes, sir. And and realize we will be having our budget retreat next month. So council gets to see it and weigh in on it, give recommendations as you guys did last year. [1:06:28, 1:06:28]: Um [1:06:29, 1:06:35]: On the budget and so from there, once we get your comments and feedback and your discussions with the department heads [1:06:35, 1:06:44]: we'll go back and make those adjustments as necessary. Um what you have before you and the numbers is is like I said, on there it is preliminary. [1:06:45, 1:06:48]: because we still have to go through that process with with May and Council. [1:06:48, 1:07:08]: Thank you. Thank you for your comments. And Mr. Harris, thank you for being my my first city manager and the city manager, a great successful city manager for City Stobbery some years ago. Well go ahead, so you have a comment. Yeah, just real quick, I just want to clarify it in reference to the what's being proposed by the county, that is a what's proposed. Nothing has been determined as of yet. Again, they'll make the [1:07:08, 1:07:22]: Final adoption on the thirtieth. So again, those are some of the figures that have been that have been circulated, but nothing has been solidified as of yet. They have not made a vote and made a final determination on any of those millage rates as of yet. Okay, good deal. Thank you. Ms. Barber, you have some comments? [1:07:27, 1:07:35]: Thank you, Mayor Ford. You're welcome. Um these are actually comments and not questions. So yes. [1:07:35, 1:07:38]: Um as a member of the governing body [1:07:38, 1:07:43]: I've been asking a lot of questions as it pertains to the finances of the city. [1:07:44, 1:07:45]: Seems like I'm the only one. [1:07:45, 1:07:47]: Asking the questions. [1:07:48, 1:07:52]: The reason why is because timing is important. [1:07:53, 1:07:57]: When information is being shared with members of the governing body. [1:07:58, 1:08:01]: Um it was mentioned that the council received [1:08:01, 1:08:04]: The FY twenty twenty four budget [1:08:04, 1:08:06]: Six months before it was adopted. [1:08:07, 1:08:08]: That is true. [1:08:09, 1:08:10]: But what I asked for [1:08:10, 1:08:11]: In twenty twenty three. [1:08:12, 1:08:14]: was a mid year budget review. [1:08:14, 1:08:16]: of the current year's budget. [1:08:17, 1:08:18]: Not [1:08:19, 1:08:20]: The next year's budget. [1:08:21, 1:08:27]: I want to be able to see how we're actually spending. What's the spending trends? [1:08:28, 1:08:29]: Are we being [1:08:29, 1:08:31]: Fiscally responsible. [1:08:32, 1:08:33]: That is the responsibility. [1:08:33, 1:08:35]: of the governing body. [1:08:35, 1:08:36]: ста [1:08:36, 1:08:38]: are hired to do a job. [1:08:39, 1:08:40]: We were elected. [1:08:40, 1:08:42]: To represent the people. [1:08:42, 1:08:44]: in the interest of the people. [1:08:45, 1:08:47]: So when I'm asking these questions. [1:08:47, 1:08:49]: They're just not questions that [1:08:49, 1:08:51]: I'm just asking for myself. [1:08:51, 1:08:53]: А вон би алту експлен. [1:08:54, 1:08:55]: This information [1:08:55, 1:08:56]: To the public. [1:08:56, 1:08:57]: To the residents. [1:08:58, 1:09:00]: So when I wanna look at the actuals [1:09:01, 1:09:03]: What our spending trends are. [1:09:03, 1:09:12]: If we're um spending more in one department than the other, if we're not spending enough in certain areas. [1:09:12, 1:09:13]: I wanna see [1:09:13, 1:09:15]: Where those [1:09:15, 1:09:16]: The adjustments. [1:09:17, 1:09:20]: The amendments to our current year budgets [1:09:20, 1:09:22]: should be presented. [1:09:23, 1:09:24]: During our public meetings. [1:09:24, 1:09:25]: But they're not. [1:09:26, 1:09:30]: We should be able to look at the budget right now online. [1:09:30, 1:09:35]: and see where we are with our spending with all of the departments. [1:09:36, 1:09:38]: The city spent well over a hundred and thirty. [1:09:39, 1:09:42]: twenty thousand dollars on open gov. [1:09:42, 1:09:45]: It was a software program. [1:09:45, 1:09:46]: Where the public [1:09:46, 1:09:49]: Кудсі релів транзакція. [1:09:49, 1:09:51]: Well that software is not up. [1:09:52, 1:09:53]: It's not available. [1:09:53, 1:09:56]: It has not been rolled out for the public to see. [1:09:56, 1:09:59]: So until then I'm going to continue. [1:09:59, 1:10:02]: asking questions regarding the finances of the city. [1:10:03, 1:10:04]: Absolutely. [1:10:05, 1:10:12]: Just two months ago, I asked for a mid-year budget review for this year's budget. [1:10:13, 1:10:13]: Well [1:10:13, 1:10:15]: It was supposed to happen in June. [1:10:16, 1:10:17]: It didn't happen in June. [1:10:18, 1:10:19]: So now it would be [1:10:20, 1:10:26]: The mid-year budget review for twenty twenty four will be presented to the council during our work session. [1:10:26, 1:10:27]: In July. [1:10:28, 1:10:29]: That's the week after. [1:10:29, 1:10:33]: The council approves and adopts this millagerate. [1:10:34, 1:10:40]: That defeats the whole purpose of me asking to review our current year's budget. [1:10:41, 1:10:45]: So you see I'm just not asking these questions just to um [1:10:46, 1:10:47]: Make things difficult. [1:10:47, 1:10:49]: or complicated for anybody. [1:10:49, 1:10:53]: In fact, I'm trying to make it easy for us to make decisions here. [1:10:53, 1:10:56]: I want to be able to justify my vote. [1:10:57, 1:10:59]: And I don't feel like I can. [1:10:59, 1:11:07]: Because I don't know where we are spending wise with the three point seven seven millage rate that we currently have. [1:11:08, 1:11:09]: I don't know. [1:11:09, 1:11:12]: If the three point seven seven is enough [1:11:12, 1:11:14]: I don't know if [1:11:15, 1:11:16]: There is waste. [1:11:16, 1:11:24]: um wasteful spending in certain areas where we may be able to move money to other areas. I don't know any of that. [1:11:25, 1:11:25]: But I should know. [1:11:26, 1:11:28]: Every member of this governing body [1:11:29, 1:11:30]: has a responsibility. [1:11:31, 1:11:33]: Of ensuring that there is no waste. [1:11:33, 1:11:34]: Fraud. [1:11:34, 1:11:35]: Or abuse. [1:11:36, 1:11:39]: I'm not the newest member of this governing body anymore. [1:11:40, 1:11:41]: But I've been very vocal. [1:11:41, 1:11:45]: About being transparent, about the way we govern. [1:11:45, 1:11:47]: And the way we do business. [1:11:48, 1:11:49]: When you have nothing to hide. [1:11:50, 1:11:51]: You hide nothing. [1:11:51, 1:11:54]: If you go on the city's website right now. [1:11:54, 1:11:57]: And you look at the current year's budget. [1:11:57, 1:12:02]: versus the actual spending in twenty twenty three isn't complete. [1:12:03, 1:12:05]: In fact, the council adopted. [1:12:05, 1:12:08]: This year's budget without seeing [1:12:08, 1:12:11]: The full actuals from twenty twenty three. [1:12:12, 1:12:18]: It's the reason why and I can't remember if I abstained or I opposed approving the budget. [1:12:19, 1:12:23]: I asked for the actuals, I need to see where we are. [1:12:24, 1:12:25]: I'm the only one asking. [1:12:26, 1:12:31]: And the council takes a position of if there are not three people [1:12:31, 1:12:34]: Who are in favor of [1:12:35, 1:12:36]: A suggestion or idea? [1:12:36, 1:12:38]: The staff doesn't move on it. [1:12:38, 1:12:40]: So it just leaves me. [1:12:40, 1:12:42]: Asking the questions. [1:12:42, 1:12:44]: While everybody else is silent. [1:12:47, 1:12:51]: You all need to hold your elected officials accountable. [1:12:51, 1:12:53]: For the decisions that they're making. [1:12:54, 1:12:58]: as as it pertains to the independent audit. [1:12:59, 1:13:01]: Since I was sworn in in twenty twenty. [1:13:02, 1:13:04]: We have received [1:13:04, 1:13:07]: A presentation from the auditing firm [1:13:07, 1:13:11]: Every July or August of every year. [1:13:12, 1:13:14]: their observations are in [1:13:15, 1:13:18]: um review of the previous years. [1:13:18, 1:13:19]: Budget. [1:13:19, 1:13:20]: And financials. [1:13:21, 1:13:22]: So this year [1:13:22, 1:13:23]: The auditor. [1:13:24, 1:13:25]: We'll be reviewing [1:13:26, 1:13:28]: the budget and actuals. [1:13:28, 1:13:30]: And the finances from twenty twenty three. [1:13:32, 1:13:33]: When they come before us. [1:13:34, 1:13:34]: Um [1:13:34, 1:13:35]: I'm expecting [1:13:36, 1:13:39]: that they will be sharing all of the [1:13:39, 1:13:39]: Um [1:13:40, 1:13:41]: Findings from their audit. [1:13:42, 1:13:43]: And [1:13:43, 1:13:45]: Providing corrective actions. [1:13:45, 1:13:47]: That's what I'm expecting. [1:13:47, 1:13:48]: Last year [1:13:48, 1:13:49]: We didn't get that. [1:13:50, 1:13:52]: Диспойт мі аскін. [1:13:53, 1:13:53]: More [1:13:54, 1:13:56]: Almost twenty times. [1:13:57, 1:13:58]: My requests [1:13:58, 1:14:06]: To staff since July of twenty twenty three. My request to my councilmates, the entire [1:14:06, 1:14:07]: Governing body. [1:14:08, 1:14:09]: Telling them. [1:14:10, 1:14:12]: We need to see the independent audit results. [1:14:12, 1:14:14]: Ever since I've been here in twenty twenty. [1:14:15, 1:14:17]: The auditor has come before the council. [1:14:18, 1:14:19]: Why are they delayed? [1:14:21, 1:14:22]: This was last year. [1:14:23, 1:14:23]: Well [1:14:24, 1:14:30]: The council finally received the independent audit results from the twenty twenty two. [1:14:31, 1:14:31]: Audit. [1:14:33, 1:14:34]: In April. [1:14:35, 1:14:35]: Of this year. [1:14:38, 1:14:46]: I'm afraid we're on the same track of receiving the independent audit results from the 2023 financials. [1:14:48, 1:14:49]: They're being delayed. [1:14:49, 1:14:50]: Two. [1:14:51, 1:14:53]: So it's these kinds of politrics. [1:14:53, 1:14:55]: I don't like to play. [1:14:55, 1:14:57]: This is not just [1:14:57, 1:14:58]: Our money. [1:14:59, 1:15:00]: It's the residence money. [1:15:02, 1:15:05]: I want to make sure that they are comfortable. [1:15:05, 1:15:07]: With the decisions that are being made here. [1:15:08, 1:15:11]: It keeps being mentioned that the [1:15:11, 1:15:14]: Tax was imposed to help [1:15:14, 1:15:16]: Fund the police department. [1:15:16, 1:15:18]: Some of that may be true. [1:15:19, 1:15:20]: But we have another [1:15:21, 1:15:21]: Capital. [1:15:22, 1:15:22]: Expenditure. [1:15:23, 1:15:24]: That is awesome. [1:15:25, 1:15:26]: Using [1:15:26, 1:15:27]: This city tax. [1:15:28, 1:15:29]: That's the amphitheater. [1:15:29, 1:15:31]: To fund the amphitheater. [1:15:31, 1:15:32]: That [1:15:32, 1:15:40]: None of us, well at least I'm not, receiving monthly profit and loss statements. So I can't tell you where we are. [1:15:41, 1:15:44]: Where we are with our spending of the amphitheatre. [1:15:44, 1:15:48]: I do know what was budgeted for it in twenty twenty three. [1:15:48, 1:15:50]: And twenty twenty four. [1:15:50, 1:15:52]: Two million dollars was budgeted for it. [1:15:53, 1:15:54]: Did we go over? [1:15:54, 1:15:55]: Yes. [1:15:55, 1:15:57]: How much exactly? [1:15:57, 1:15:57]: I don't know. [1:15:59, 1:16:00]: I don't know. [1:16:00, 1:16:02]: Staff is not speaking to it. [1:16:02, 1:16:06]: Which is why I've asked that we do a deeper dive. [1:16:07, 1:16:08]: That is what I was expecting. [1:16:09, 1:16:12]: If we're talking about adopting a military [1:16:12, 1:16:20]: I don't know if we can if there's an opportunity for us to even decrease or reduce the current military. [1:16:20, 1:16:22]: Because all the information [1:16:22, 1:16:23]: Is that being provided? [1:16:24, 1:16:26]: I want to put this all on record. [1:16:26, 1:16:27]: Because Calm. [1:16:27, 1:16:29]: Alexander seemed to be [1:16:29, 1:16:34]: Pointing out a lot of the questions that I've been asking via emails. [1:16:34, 1:16:36]: And public meetings. [1:16:37, 1:16:38]: Um [1:16:39, 1:16:41]: I'm expecting the mid year budget review. [1:16:42, 1:16:43]: Uh [1:16:43, 1:16:44]: This year's budget. [1:16:44, 1:16:45]: So I can see [1:16:46, 1:16:48]: What our spinning habits and trends are. [1:16:48, 1:16:51]: If there are adjustments to be made, there are [1:16:52, 1:16:53]: We need to make them. [1:16:54, 1:16:56]: Staff are hired to do a job. [1:16:57, 1:16:58]: The governing body [1:16:58, 1:17:01]: We're the ones who are driving this ship. [1:17:02, 1:17:02]: Not staff. [1:17:09, 1:17:18]: I wanted to ask Mr. Aaron, um, is the senior discount program for the sanitation, is that still being offered? [1:17:30, 1:17:50]: Uh, Councilman Barber, yes, that's being offered as long as they meet the requirements. They meet the age and income requirements they had until May thirty first to get their information in for the FY 2023 tax year in order to receive the sanitation discount. Those that meet the requirement gets a s get a seventy five percent. [1:17:50, 1:17:52]: five percent reduction on their sanitation fees. [1:17:52, 1:17:53]: Thank you, sir. [1:18:02, 1:18:04]: Thank you, Mayor. You're welcome. [1:18:04, 1:18:07]: Mr. Baird, did you have any comments before we close out at all? [1:18:07, 1:18:08]: Just really quickly. [1:18:09, 1:18:29]: Uh thank you guys again for coming out and uh asking the questions that you have. It is your civic writing responsibility, so I want to continue to encourage you to do so. I do want to point out some facts that were stated today that will be beneficial to the citizens over the course of the next few months. Uh it was earlier stated in November the fifth, Tuesday, 2024, there will be [1:18:29, 1:18:45]: be a vote on record for a city exemption for the first time. So please be reminded of that and also notify and extend that message to your neighbors. Not everyone has a chance to come to these meetings and get that information. So knowledge is power. Please share that. [1:18:45, 1:18:57]: Uh in addition to that, wanna thank Tax Commissioner Michael Harris for coming out today. I appreciate his information and the knowledge that he shared regarding the county uh tax assessments as well as the uh school board, board of education. [1:18:58, 1:19:18]: Also wanted to point out that the millage rate for the city is not increasing, but it does appear to be represented as the three point seven seven, which is the same as it was before. And so I know there is a lot of misinformation going on around a increase. So there uh there is information regarding that. Also want to mark the dates for the Board of Education as well as the [1:19:18, 1:19:38]: Henry County adoption of their tax millage rates are both on July the thirtieth, one at one PM and one at four PM. So please mark your calendars for that as well. It's important to be at those meetings as well. And then one final note comment is that uh the city tax we actually have saved because had we not [1:19:38, 1:19:53]: and adopt adopted the police department, uh, we would have seen an increase of one point nine to four point seven. And so that is no longer the case. I did want to point that summarized note for everyone who didn't get a chance to take notes and wanted to know what was the uh briefing for today. So just wanna run down that. [1:19:53, 1:20:12]: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. And once again, ladies and gentlemen, uh the uh third and last uh public hearing will be Monday, July twenty second, ten AM. And at at the end of that or conclusion of that particular meeting, that's when the council will vote on the recommendation of three point seven seven. On that note, uh late uh council yes sir. [1:20:13, 1:20:25]: Ladies and gentlemen, you know we got a special day today. The Mayor Pro Tem is here on his birthday today. All right, happy birthday, Mayor Pro Tem Carl Berry. Happy birthday, brother. [1:20:25, 1:20:42]: Thanks everybody. Appreciate that. On that note, uh council need a motion to end our meeting, please. Slow move. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Mr. Barrett. I'll give it to Mr. Barrett from Alexander Barrett. All in favor, please indicate. All right, we are now adjourned. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. God bless you all.