Council holds second public hearing and first reading of millage rate ordinance

BLUE RIDGE, GA – The Blue Ridge City Council held the second public hearing about the millage rate Thursday, Sept. 12, at city hall, before the city council’s special called meeting with the downtown development authority.

With no members of the community present, the hearing closed immediately and was quickly followed by first reading of the FY2019 Millage Rate Ordinance.

City Finance Director Alicia Johnson said Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the council’s regular meeting that the millage rate for the city would remain the same in 2019 as it was in 2018.

The millage rate was set at 5.378 mills in 2018.

With no members of the public present to speak during the second public hearing, the first reading of the FY2019 Millage Rate Ordinance was done quickly.

Acting City Attorney Adam J. Rozen gave the first reading of the ordinance. Rosen is serving as the city attorney in the absence of James Balli, who has served as the city attorney since January 2018. Balli and Rozen are both from the Sams, Larkin, Huff, and Balli law firm based in Marietta. This was Rozen’s second meeting serving in the role.

The first reading of the ordinance follows:

This ordinance in-full has been advertised and will be provided for the public and posted online. (…) I’m not going to read the entire ordinance, it is somewhat lengthy, but I’ll give you the sections. Section one is your net millage rate. Second two is the net millage rate for the purpose of raising revenues to provide governmental services. Section three is 2019 ad valorem tax levy. Second four is due date of tax. Section five is interest and penalties assessed. Section six is notice, issuance of Fi-Fa, and levy and sale to collect past due and delinquent ad valorem. Section seven is the procedure for collection of past due and delinquent ad valorem taxes from years prior to the calendar year 2019. Section eight is repeal conflicting ordnances to the extent of conflict. Section nine is severability, 10 is effective date. (…) That completes the first reading for the item No. 3:  Fiscal Year 2019 Millage Rate Ordinance.

After that, the first reading was closed and the council went into a meeting with the Downtown Development Authority.

The Blue Ridge City Council is expected to approve the FY2019 Millage Rate Ordinance at the regularly-scheduled meeting beginning at 5 p.m., Oct. 8, at city hall.