Canton Approves 2018 Millage Rate

CANTON, GA — The Canton City Council at its called July 26 meeting has voted to set its millage rate for 2018. Council members voted 6-0 to set the rate at 5.400 mills, which the city previously said will result in an increase in property taxes by 2.7 percent for some residents.

For a home with a fair market value of $200,000 the increase would mean that person would pay about $11.36 more in property taxes, For non-homesteaded properties with a value of $200,000, the increase would also be about the same, the city contends.

In a message penned last week to Council members, City Manager Billy Peppers notes the city's millage rate is the lowest it has been in 20 years, and the lowest among cities in Cherokee County:

• Ball Ground: 8.269 mills
• Holly Springs: 8.148 mills
• Waleska: 7.489 mills
• Woodstock: 6.808 mills

Along with having the lowest millage rate among Cherokee County's cities, Canton also grants seniors age 62 and older a full exemption on property taxes on the fair market of a home up to $280,000.

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The 2018 millage rate will be used as the basis for the fiscal year 2019 budget, which is proposed at $45 million. Peppers said the city is recommending a 2.2 percent cost-of-living adjustments for all employees and a one-time adjustment of the holiday bonus from $350 to $1,000.

According to the city, the COLAs adjustment for an average full-time employee would be about a $.44 cents per hour raise or $35.20 per pay period. The holiday bonuses and COLAs, the city adds, equate to a 3.8-percent increase in employee pay for the 2019 budget.

If Canton were to do an across-the-board pay increase of 3.8 percent to all employees and eliminate plans to implement a holiday bonus, it could cost the city $12,682 more and "would benefit higher paid employees the most."

"The use of a combination approach of COLA and one-time bonus will benefit all employees at the most efficient use of funds," Peppers said in his memo.

The proposed budget would also include a $930,000 increase in spending in the city's general fund, which accounts for most of Canton's government services. The bulk of this, about $858,000, is related to the Police Department, with the remaining $71,409 in other city functions. While the city has 125 full-time employees, the police department has 57 full-time employees, or 46 percent of all city personnel.

Other expenses outlined in the budget is an additional $35,202 in expenses for the Canton Theater, which is now producing more in-house activities, such as hosting films and plays. You can get a closer look at the proposed budget by clicking here.

City leaders will take up the budget at the Council's Aug. 16 meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at Canton City Hall.

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