Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6A
August 20, 2008
^Reporter
Schools OK small tax rate cut
But county-wide revaluation
means higher tax bills for most
BY GINA HERRING
The Monroe County
Board of Education on Aug.
12 cut its property tax rate
to 13.1 mills, eight-tenths
of a mill lower than the
13.9 mills levied in 2007.
However, with property
values up 23 percent, most
Monroe County homeown
ers will still see a higher
tax bill come September.
The board had set a ten
tative millage rate of 12.8
in a called meeting on Aug.
8, but was forced to recon
sider after it was notified
that the first tax digest it
received had the digest
overstated by about $75
million (in taxable value).
With the county-wide
reevaluation of property
conducted over the past
year, the 13.1 mills of tax
will produce a higher rate
of income than the 13.9
mills did a year ago.
Therefore, under Georgia
Law, the board must hold
three public hearings
before setting the final
rate.
The board hopes to be
able roll the millage back
further if possible, says
Jackson Daniel, assistant
superintendent of support
services. With a number of
values coming up for
appeal soon, the board
should receive updated
digest information before it
meets Sept. 4 to set a final
millage rate. At that meet
ing, the board can set a
lower millage rate, but it
cannot raise the rate any
higher than the prelimi
nary rate.
In its last two meetings,
the board reviewed the
$32.7 million budget it
approved in June which
went into affect July 1.
According to Daniel, the
increased revenue primari
ly funds the state mandat
ed 2.5 percent raise for
teachers and higher fuel
prices for the school’s stu
dent transportation
department.
In setting the millage
rate, the board also took
into consideration news
that the state is instituting
a 2 percent budget cut on
the state revenue that was
already included in the
Board of Education’s fiscal
year 2009 budget. This 2
percent cut, prompted by a
downturn in state rev
enues, amounts to a loss of
nearly $400,000 (.3 mills of
tax in Monroe County)
from Monroe County’s
state funding. An addition
al $590,000 (.41 mills of
tax) in state funding for
Monroe County schools is
in jeopardy as state offi
cials discuss how to deal
with the Homeowners
Relief Credit - a reduction
in local tax bills that is
repaid to taxing authori
ties by the state. The two
state budget reductions
add up to a revenue short
fall of just under $1 million
for the budget.
The public is invited to
the hearings on the tax
increase to be Thursday,
Aug. 28 at noon and at 6
p.m.; and Thursday, Sept. 4
at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of
Education’s Central Offices
at 25 Brooklyn Avenue. A
called meeting to set the
final millage rate will be
held at 6:45 p.m. following
the third public hearing on
Sept. 4. For more informa
tion, contact the Business
Services between 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. at 994-2031
or at 25 Brooklyn Ave.
Monroe County Memorial Chapel
Monroe Memorial Gardens
We set the
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994-4266
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Call your local Monroe County representative
Scott Harrell
478-256-3586
or toll free: 800-551-1102
3250 Vineville Ave., Macon, GA 31208 r
IN MEMORY
Autumn Marie Payton
McKinzie-Conkle
Autumn Marie Payton McKinzie-Conkle, infant daugh
ter of Crystal McKinzie and Richie Conkle, passed away
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. A graveside service was held
Aug. 16 at High Falls Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by grandpar
ents, Darryle Brunner of Barnesville, Tammy Brunner
and Jerry Rafferzeder of Forsyth, Richard Conkle of
Alabama and Tammy and Eric Castleberry of Forsyth;
great-grandparents, Ray and Brenda McKinzie of
Forsyth, Laverne Brunner of Cross Plains, Tenn., James
and Mary Smith of High Falls and Richard Conkle of
Griffin; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Monroe County Memorial Chapel had charge of the
Derrick Demone Davis
Derrick Demone Davis of Forsyth died Tuesday, August
12, 2008. Funeral services were held Aug. 17 at Pine
Grove CME Church in Culloden.
Survivors include his father, Freddie Alford of Culloden;
mother, Christine Davis of Forsyth; children, Shatara
Renee Brantley and Rondarius Kemon Scott; grandmoth
er, Inez Rutland Alford, and host of aunts, uncles, nieces,
nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Freeman Funeral Home of Forsyth had charge of the
arrangements.
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Patsy “Nana” Maddox Smith
November 13,1951 - August 10,2008
Patsy “Nana” Maddox Smith of Lizella died Sunday,
Aug. 10, 2008. Graveside services were held Aug. 13 at
Dames Ferry Baptist Church Cemetery. The Rev. Darren
Brown officiated.
Ms. Smith, the daughter of the late Marshall W. and
Mildred Strong Maddox was born Nov. 13, 1951, in Bibb
County. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her son and daughter in law, Nickie
and Pamela Smith of Kathleen, brothers, Matt Maddox of
Warner Robins, Buddy Maddox of Dalton and Ricky
Maddox of Bonaire, sister, Judy Hopper of Macon, two
grandchildren, Danielle Dawn Smith and John Wesley
Smith, companion, Hiram Jones of Lizella.
Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to
sign the online registry for the family.
Monroe County Memorial Chapel had charge of
arrangements.
Frankie Lavon Evans
Frankie Lavon Evans, 53, of Forsyth, died Sunday,
August 10, 2008. Funeral services were held Aug. 16 at
Kynette United Methodist Church. Burial was in Rest
Haven Cemetery.
Survivors include his daughter, Melanie Lavon Evans;
stepson, Dewayne and Charles Evans; grandchildren,
Jamirea J. Jackson, Jaquavius B. Willis and Anya C.
Evans; sister, Rosa Marie (Kasie) Evans of Barnesville;
brother, Shannon Freeman III; sister-in-law, Catherine
(Rev. Micheal) Freeman; aunts, Pearlie (Mathew) Toles,
Ollie Mercer, Ella Holden, Sandra Jackson, Lynnette
(Albert) Mays, Lena Mae (Lonnie) Bozeman, all of
Forsyth, Fred Alic Senatus of Fort Lauderdale, FL,
Louise F. Bowden of Macon; uncles, Weldon (Susan)
Freeman, Samuel (Geraldine) Freeman, Dr. McArthur
(Shirley) Freeman, all of Atlanta, Nathaniel (Georgia)
Freeman and Earnest Ralls of Forsyth; a host of other
relatives and friends.
Freeman Funeral Home of Forsyth had charge of the
arrangements.
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In Loving Memory of
Mattie Ponder Matthews
Who Departed This Life August 24, 2007
When a mother breathes her last farewell,
The shock means more than words can tell.
The world means quite another place,
Without the smile of our mother's face;
We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
As time goes by, we'll miss you more;
Your loving smile, your gentle face;
No one can fill your vacant place.
You gave so much while you were here,
You caused a laugh, you dried a tear;
And yet tho' death has taken you away,
Within our hearts, you'll always stay.
Sadly missed by:
daughter; Lena Jones, son; Willie James (Irene)
Matthews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren
& sister; Mary Ponder.
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The Monroe County Board of Education has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase
in property taxes by 15.9 %. All Concerned Citizens are invited to public hearings on this tax increase, as required
by O.C_G_A_ 48-5-32.1, to be held at the Board of Education Otfice at 25 Brooklyn Avenue on the following dates:
Thursday, Aug. 28, at 12 noon; Thursday. Aug. 28. at 6 p.m.; and Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m.
The Monroe County Board of Education does hereby announce that the millage rate for 2008 will be established
at a special called meeting of the Board to be held at 6.45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 at the BOE Office
at 25 Brooklyn Avenue, and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. 48-5-32, does hereby publish the following
presentation of the current year's tax digest and proposed levy along with the history of the tax digest and levy for
the past five years.
Current 2008 Tax Digest and 5-Year History of Levy
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Real & Personal
1,008,601,060
1,620,664,849
1,684,946,452
1,939,026,461
1,194,897,703
Motor Vehicles
68,286,061
64.953,370
64,283,900
63.249,540
71.642,370
Mobile Homes
5.624.198
9,433.594
8.420.004
7,805.938
7,510,759
Timber -100%
2.795.223
5,317.340
4.451.186
8,089,799
4,921,038
Heavy Equip.
726,426
899,356
Gross Diciest
1,085,306,542
1.700,419.153
1,762,101,542
2,018,898.164
1.279,871,226
Less M&O Expemp.
80,379,294
112,803,639
120,848,507
127,189,309
132,399,995
Met M&O Diqest
1.004,927.248
1,587,615,514
1,641,253.035
1.891.708,855
1.147.471.231
Gross M&O Millaqe
12.3
12.3
13.5
13.5
139
Less Rollbacks
Net M&O Millaqe
12.3
12.3
13.5
13.5
139
Total Taxes Levied
12.360,602
19,527,671
22.156.916
25,538.070
15,949.850
Total Taxes S Incr
476,431
7,167,069
2,136,869
3,381,154
(9,588,219}
Total Taxes % Incr.
4.0
5B.0
10.9
15.0
(37.5)