Woodstock Proposes 'Revenue Neutral' Tax Rate

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The city of Woodstock on Monday held the first public hearing on its 2015 millage rate at its City Council meeting.

City staff is proposing to roll back the rate from 7.250 to 6.995 mills, the rate in which the city would collect the same amount of revenue if no property reassessments occurred.

In other words, if your property assessment remained the same, you should expected your city property tax bill to remain the same.

Council members also received an update from City Manager Jeff Moon on efforts to reduce the cost of the proposed amphitheater project. Moon said staff and the architect took options presented at the last meeting and have come up with the following cost-saving adjustments:

• City utility crews remediating unsuitable soil: $53,250
• Allowing city crews to demolish asphalt, curb and concrete related to the project: $40,000
• $679,000 projected savings in replacing site concrete walls with megatandem and modular wall; replacing concrete flatwork in selected areas with sod or ground cover planters; and replacing concrete and brick wall running parallel to Arnold Mill Road with ornamental fence to match existing style;
• Convert building foundation walls to concrete masonry unit: $41,000;
• Removing all millwork: $7,600;
• Replacing stage metal roofing with shingles and modified bitumen with TPO roofing: $45,000;
• Replace planned HVAC with exhaust fans and heaters in restroom and 3-ton split system in interior band shell: $36,000;
• Replace walkover lighting and bollards: $62,000.

These total savings would amount to roughly $963,850. Moon said the proposal to award a bid and to have Mayor Donnie Henriques to execute a contract will be placed on the Monday, Aug. 17 called meeting agenda for consideration.

If approved by the council, site work could begin following the Sept. 12 installment of the 2015 Summer Concert Series. Once that’s complete, the city will be able to turn over the site and the project to the contractor.

The projected time table for construction is expected to run from nine to 12 months, which will lessen the impact to the 2016 Summer Concert Series.

Woodstock expects to use parks and recreation impact fees and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, revenue for the project.

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Image via Shutterstock