Garden City approves millage rate hike after residents push back

GARDEN CITY, Ga. (WTOC) -City leaders approved a property tax increase that raises the city’s millage rate by nearly 90%, a move that drew pushback from residents at city hall.

City Council voted 4-2 Monday night to increase the millage rate to 7.851, up from 4 mills.

Residents who spoke during public comment said the increase would be difficult to afford and called for tighter spending and more transparency from city leadership.

“I can’t afford a tax rate... not for 88%,” one resident said.

Garden City resident and business owner Al Ellisor told council members, “You can’t just tax your way out of a problem. You’re going to have to have more physical responsibility, financial responsibility and we’re going to have to cut things that we don’t need.”

Mayor Bruce Campbell said the increase was necessary after years of keeping the rate low.

“The decision was made tonight because it was time to go up on taxes,” Campbell said.

Campbell said the millage rate stayed at 4 mills for more than a decade as the city repeatedly rolled back the rate even as the tax digest grew.

“It was at 4 mills, and it stayed that way over a decade and we constantly rolled back,” Campbell said. “Our digest was up, our warehouses coming in, but right now we’re at a point now where we gotta do it, it’s a must.”

Earlier this month, city leaders said the proposed increase was needed to cover the fire department budget after the city eliminated its fire protection fee, and a public hearing was scheduled for July 20. Campbell said Monday the tax increase is not meant solely to cover fire department costs, pointing instead to rising costs nationwide.

Resident Al Ellisor said he understands expenses are increasing for everyone, but he wants city leaders to be more transparent about the decision.

“Everyone is paying more... and the working man is just being taxed right out of the system,” Ellisor said. “The leaders of the cities, the municipalities---they need to step up, they need to start doing what’s right by the citizens and run the cities like they would their own checkbook.”

After the vote, some residents again called for greater transparency. Campbell said the city has been transparent and has held meetings open to the public, but said many residents do not attend.