Berkeley Lake May Drop Millage Rate

At its City Council meeting Thursday, (April 26), Berkeley Lake city leaders voted to reduce the current millage rate by 48 percent.

The new rate, 2.8, is a sharp reduction from the current 5.386 currrent millage rate and was proposed after careful study said 's mayor, Lois Salter, in her recent Mayors Message which is sent out to the city's 2,000 residents.

The current rate had been put in place so the city could pay for the entire dam project which was estimated to be $3.5 million. However, the $2.3 million reimbursement from FEMA to pay for the dam repairs coupled with the city's recent annexation of 55 commercial properties, lead to the decision to reduce the millage rate said the mayor.

The proposed reduction will require a lengthy process of meetings and public hearings, said Salter. The mayor said she was "confident that this rate is not only safe for us, but a conservative move," and expects to "be able to lower taxes further in future years."