Newspaper Page Text
o
o
16 Pages, 2 Sections
A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Winder, Barrow County, Georgia $1.00 Copy Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Barrow County’s
tax digest grows
over 26% in last year
By Morgan Ervin
morgan@barro wnewsj ournal. com
Property tax estimates
have arrived in mailboxes
across Barrow County over
recent weeks, with many
residents receiving higher
tax bills than ever before
and left to wonder what
happened to cause these in
creases.
The county’s annual tax
digest is a vital resource for
understanding the justifica
tion for these tax hikes.
The tax digest for 2023
is $4,170,628,283. a net
increase of 26.35% from
the tax digest for 2023.
After a 24.94% net gain in
the 2023 digest from 2022.
the county’s digest has now
experienced a considerable
increase for two consecu
tive years.
As a result of increased
values for reassessed prop
erties that were already on
the tax digest, an additional
$705,818,574 was added to
the county’s tax digest over
the past year. Meanwhile,
the value of new proper
ty from construction rose
by $161,363,207 and per
sonal property increased
by $60,470,203. Exemp
tions also increased by
$52,338,461. while auto
mobiles still subject to the
birthday tax decreased by
$6,332,770.
Some relief from rising
taxes was offered on March
12. 2023, when Governor
Brian Kemp signed House
Bill 18 for a one-time
Property Tax Relief Grant,
which reduced the assessed
value of homes by an addi
tional $18,000.
The county’s tax digest
increases alongside in
creased property values and
growth.
Certain aspects that lead
to increased property values
resulting in higher taxes in
clude home improvements,
neighborhood improve
ments, like new schools and
new businesses, and gov
ernment policies.
Not all properties will
change at the same rate due
See Tax, page 2A
Senior citizens turn
out in droves to
protest school tax
By Carole Townsend
With the Barrow County
Board of Educators’ im
minent decision regarding
the fiscal year 2024 (FY24)
millage rate coming up,
many of the county’s senior
residents showed up Tues
day to voice their concerns
about a recent surprise they
received when they opened
their property tax assess
ment notices.
About 35 years ago, the
then-sitting Barrow Coun
ty Board of Education
outlined conditions under
which senior citizens might
someday be required to pay
school taxes. Until this past
county home value assess
ment, seniors have not had
to pay school taxes in Bar-
row County.
However, 35 years ago,
the likelihood of many, if
any, homes in Barrow val
ued at $200,000 or more
was rather far-fetched.
Fast forward to 2023,
with the median home value
in Barrow County hovering
around $380,000, and many
homes tipping the scales at
MAILING LABEL
'0 4879 14541 7
a much higher number, it
has become clear that the
“someday” discussed 35
years ago is now.
As a result, senior cit
izens. many on fixed in
comes supporting bud
gets already stretched
paper-thin, reminded the
school board that they
bought their homes, worked
hard and sent their children
to schools they supported
with their tax dollars. As
such, they do not feel this
perceived curve ball should
place undue pressure on
them at this stage of their
lives.
Board members agreed.
The board reminded citi
zens that these concerns,
and even some solutions,
will be addressed in three
upcoming public hearings
on the matter. During these
public hearings, audiences
will listen to a presentation
and participate in questions
and answer sessions.
Currently, board mem
bers favor a millage rate of
15.298, which is down from
the current school millage
rate of 17.881. The board
also discussed plans for
using $1.9 million out of
the fund balance to extend
teacher salary schedules for
30 years.
The three public hearings
coming up will take place
on the following dates and
times at 179 W Athens St.
in Winder:
•June 22 at 10 a.m.
•June 22 at 6 p.m.
•June 29 at 1 p.m.
Index:
Public safety
5A
State roundup
3A
Classifieds
3B
Legals
4-7B
Obituaries
6-7A
Opinion
4A
Sports
1-2B
photos courtesy of City of Winder
Bulldogs, poodles, chihuahuas, great danes and many
more breeds were accompanied by their humans for an
event created esxclusively for pets.
Women purchase items from a vendor selling pet out
fits and apparel.
Derrick, Dove and the Peacekeepers provided live
music at the event.
Bark in the Park:
Winder hosts its first-ever pet party
Winder hosted its first annual Bark in the Park event Friday, June 2, at Jug Tavern Park, where
families and their four-legged friends gathered for an evening of pet-themed fun, including a dog
show, caricatures and vendors selling pet clothes, gourmet treats and other pet supplies. The event
also featured live music, a bounce house, cornhole and food trucks.
Winder approves FY24 budget
with mayor’s tie-breaking vote
By Morgan Ervin
morgan@barrownewsjournal.com
The Winder City Council
passed a resolution adopting
the fiscal year 2024 (FY24)
budget for all city funds during
its voting session Tuesday af
ter Mayor David Maynard’s
tie-breaking vote in favor of its
approval with councilmembers
Stephanie Brit, Kobi Kilgore
and Travis Singley opposed.
GENERALFUND
The general fund, which fi
nances the mayor and council,
finance, administration, human
resources, information technol
ogy, downtown development,
planning, permitting, inspec
tions, police, fire, streets, public
works and geographic infor
mation systems (GIS) projects
$21.9 million in revenue in
FY24, an 8.7% increase from
FY23.
Budgeted expenditures will
increase by $2.98 million, or
16.4%, in FY24. While the
FY24 general fund budget an
ticipates a millage rate rollback,
increased fees for alcoholic
beverage licenses, fire inspec
tions and zoning, land use,
building and other permits will
see increases in FY24.
Other areas where the city
anticipates increased revenues
include the local option sales
tax, charges for services and in
vestment income. Of the city’s
general fund revenues, over $12
million, or 56.9%, is from taxes;
$4.5 million, or 21.3%, is from
charges for services; $984,000,
4.6%, is from licenses and per
mits; $1.1 million, or 5.2%, is
from investment income and
$1.9 million, or 9.3% is from
other financing resources.
General fund expenditures
for FY24 total $21,187,680 and
expect a 4% cost of living and
up to 3% merit increases for
city employees. The city will be
adding new full-time positions
including a tax administrator,
three firefighters, and an arbor
ist planner and will establish
engineering, communications
and internal public works de
partments.
As of the start of FY24 on
July 1, ESG will no longer be
providing public works services
through a contract with the City
of Winder. ESG will contin
ue to provide utility services
through a contract with the City
of Winder. According to the
city, providing city services in-
house resulted in a “significant
enhancement of services while
generating cost savings” in the
FY24 budget.
Of the general fund's expen
ditures, public safety accounts
for $10.1 million, or 47.8%;
public works account for $2.7
million, or 12.8%; general gov
ernment accounts for $5.8 mil
lion, or 27.5%; and housing and
development accounts for $2.1
million, or 10.2%.
Other additional general
fund expenditures for FY24
include the implementation of
the Cedar Creek Master Plan
and the city's new comprehen
sive plan. The city’s unassigned
fund balance for FY24 totals
$5,905,658, which represents
27.9% of expenditures, equat
ing to 3.35 months of reserves.
OTHER FUNDS
The Rose Hill Cemetery
Fund, which accounts for ac
tivities connected with funds
restricted for support of the
city-owned and operated Rose
Hill Cemetery, is proposed at
$94,719, up roughly $23,000,
or 33.4%, from FY23. Budget
ed expenditures are projected to
increase at the same rate due to
See Winder, page 2A
‘ROCKET LAUNCH’ HELD AT NEW AUSTIN ROAD ELEMENTARY
Austin Road Elementary Principal Julia Hodges and Vice Principal Grace Stone hosted a “Rocket Launch” meet
and greet Sunday afternoon. The event allows future students and their famlies the opportunity to meet with
staff and teachers, tour the newly constructed school and purchase Rocket gear. The June 4 launch was the first
of two planned this summer before the school officially opens its doors this fall. The next Rocket Launch is set
for Thursday, July 13 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Chimneys to repay city’s general fund
“You have a profit in the golf fund,’’
announced Samuel Latimer, CPA with
Rushton and Company while present
ing the city’s fiscal year 2022 (FY22)
audit report to council on May 16.
The presentation served as the in
troduction to the council’s budget
work session, articulating financial
data from FY22 and expounding on
year-to-date numbers for fiscal year
2023 (FY23). "While our profits are
notable, we are mostly proud of doing
so while simultaneously improving
our course conditions, facilities and
increasing wages for all of our staff
members,” said Elizabeth Clarkson,
Chimneys general manager.
The report clarified that Chimneys
saw a $448,407 in profit in FY22 and
projected $552,000 in FY23. Accord
ing to Latimer, this profit marks a
significant financial milestone. “I will
also say, I don’t see that a lot...it’s
something to celebrate there.” “Cred
it also goes to our fantastic grounds
crew, led by Head Superintendent Tom
Thebeau,” said Clarkson.
The city council will now authorize
a $1 million repayment to the city’s
general fund, which has financially
supported Chimneys since 2014.
“This is an incredible achievement
for the city’s long-term investment
in the golf course, and now the city’s
general fund can be repaid,” said
Councilman Sonny Morris.
The course was purchased in Sep
tember 2013 with a $600,000 advance
from the city’s water and sewer fund.
The repayment to the water and sew
er fund’s advance will continue on a
yearly payment schedule of $20,000
per year on a 30-year term.
The Chimneys purchase came at a
challenging time for the golf industry,
which was facing a downturn due to
the recession. Despite this, the city
council decided owning the course
was in the city's best interest due to
it being an integral part of the city’s
wastewater treatment system. “Now,
the profitable Chimneys Golf Course
will continue contributing to the eco
nomic growth and recreational value
of the City of Winder as a self-sus
taining enterprise,” read a city press
release.
Learn more about The Chimneys
Golf Course at https://www.chimneys-
gc.com.
