The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@alltel.net

By RICHARD HARRIS (from the August 2, 2006 issue)
   The Marion County Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted a millage rate for 2006 that will result in a decrease in the total amount of property taxes collected next year. Property taxes are projected to be $161,175 less than last year, which is a decrease of 9.94 percent.
   The millage rate for the unincorporated area of the county will be 7.354 as compared to 8.22 for 2005. The millage rate for the incorporated area (inside the City of Buena Vista) will be 8.812 as compared to 9.588 for 2005.
   The Marion County Commission released the following statement about the new millage rate: “Marion County will have one of the lowest millage rates in the state of Georgia for 2007 after the Marion County Board of Commissioners cut taxes from $1,622,675 for 2006 to $1,461,500 for 2007, a reduction of $161,175. The new 7.354 millage rate will be the lowest the county has had in at least five years. In spite of rising fuel costs, and a looming landfill clean-up at the county landfill, the commissioners managed to lower the millage rate and still maintain a fully staffed EMS department to answer emergency medical calls. Marion County commissioners will continue to be good stewards of the tax money we are given.”
   State law does not require the Commission to hold public hearings prior to officially adopting the new millage rate, because property taxes are being decreased. Had property taxes been expected to increase with the new millage rate, public hearings would have been required. The commissioners are expected to formally adopt the new rate on Thursday, August 24 at 4 p.m.
   Notes from the editor:
   * The newspaper hopes to soon be able to publish an article comparing tax rates of the counties in the surrounding area to further put the issue into perspective.