Fannin Commissioners approve Excise Tax Ordinance
Board of Commissioners February 23, 2022
FANNIN, Ga. — The Fannin County Board of Commissioners held two public hearings and a regular meeting on Feb. 22 that continued discussions on Excise Tax and Alarm Ordinances.
During the board’s Feb. 9 meeting, the first readings for the proposed Excise Tax and Alarm ordinances were held. After input from citizens and county officials, the board brought amended ordinances back to the public for a second hearing.
Debbie Jackson spoke to the board about the changes the final ordinance would make.
The Excise Tax – Rooms, Lodging, & Accommodation Ordinance received no public comment during the first public hearing of the evening. Lodging Tax Administrator Debbie Jackson spoke before the commissioners voted, “The basic two changes that we’re asking for would be to raise the registration fee from $25 per year to $100 when they register, with a renewal fee of $100 [annually],” she noted, “The only other thing would be the collector credit. We’d be doing away with the collector credit, that’s just a potential for abuse.”
The Alarm Ordinance received lengthy commentary during the public hearing. Mr. Bates, who said he works in security, raised his concerns with the ordinance and its effectiveness. “I think we all need to sit down and bring all the companies effected, the actual installing companies in here to talk about this,” he said. The board spoke with Bates about what changes he believed would be the most effective and how to implement them throughout the county. After the public hearing, the commissioners tabled the ordinance for further discussion. Chairman Jamie Hensley explained the decision saying, “We don’t quite have this finished, just to be honest with you. We’re still trying to tweak it up a little bit … It’s a very important thing within our county. We want to make sure that we have it right before we do move forward.”
The Commissioners also took action to correct a leasing error from 2005. The land lease left the county with a long-term lease not only on the property where Fire Station #5 is located, but on the owner’s home as well. The board approved a motion to release interest except on the tract with the fire station.
After receiving additional public comment during the regular meeting, the Board of Commissioners told those in attendance that they were in the process of creating a noise ordinance to address complaints from county residents.
Commissioners hold public hearing for ordinance amendments
Board of Commissioners February 9, 2022
FANNIN, Ga. — The Fannin County Board of Commissioners held two public hearings to discuss ordinance amendments. In the subsequent regular meeting the board approved purchases for the Fire Department.
Public Hearings
The first public hearing was set to discuss an ordinance that would “enact an excise tax on any room or rooms, lodgings, or accommodations furnished by any person or legal entity for operating within the special district a hotel, motel, inn, lodge, tourist camp, tourist cabin, rental cabin, residential home or any other place in which rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are regularly furnished for value.”
In section V, the ordinance notes: “There is hereby set and levied on the occupant of a short-term rental accommodation located within the special district a tax in the amount of six per cent (6%) of the rent for such occupancy.” The ordinance will also create an annual administrative fee of $100 for “any operator, owner, private entity, marketplace facilitator, lodging tax compliance company, manager, business or person under the purview of the within ordinance.” The ordinance is set to be adopted on Feb. 22, 2022, and can be read here.
The second public hearing of the evening dealt with false alarms that are becoming an issue for the county’s first responders. The ordinance would effect alarm users, defined by the ordinance as “any person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, governmental or educational entity or any other entity owning, leasing, or operating an alarm system, or on whose premises an alarm system is maintained for the protection of such premises.”
Representatives for the Fannin County Fire Department spoke at the public hearing, explaining that an average response to a call costs around $300. Out of 66 alarm calls last year, he noted that every single call was a false alarm. Similarly, the Fannin County Police Department, according to Sheriff Kirby, answers 800 false alarm calls a year. To respond to the issue, the board plans to implement fines for those with excessive amounts of false alarm calls. The ordinance notes: “It is hereby found and determined that three or more false alarms within a permit year is excessive, constitutes a public nuisance, and shall be unlawful.” The penalty for false alarms in one year will begin on the third occurrence with a fine of $150. The price increases after every occurrence, capping at $500 for the fifth and following. The full ordinance can be read here.
New Business
The Sheriff also spoke to the board about his intention to begin the process of purchasing X-ray body scanners for the county’s detention center. He explained to the board that heroin and fentanyl are being brought into the jail. Sheriff Kirby said to the board: “We’ve had three overdoses in the jail … this stuff is near impossible to find, even in a strip search.”
The board also approved a $12,000 purchase of 1.98 acres to be used for Fire Station #5 and approved the purchase of a new door for Fire Station #3.
At the end of the meeting, the board shared comments on the recent death of Corporal Gazaway and his wife. Chairman Jamie Hensley spoke to those in attendance saying, “It is truly amazing how this community has come together. I also wanted to commend our neighboring counties … The law enforcement from Union County and Gilmer County stepped up and covered calls here in Fannin County to allow our deputies to go to this funeral.”
Commissioners pass addendum to lodging tax contract with Chamber
News October 2, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Commissioners approved an addendum concerning lodging (hotel/motel) tax split between the Chamber of Commerce and Fannin County for tourism product development.
Previously, the split was 50/50 between the two entities and now the county will receive another eighth and third of the tax. The funds could go toward needs at the parks, recreation center, and other designation tourism items.
“The county shall pay the Chamber as under the original agreement and any renewal of the same, 41.66 percent of the total tax collected. The same shall be and is restricted to tourism markets. All other provisions of the original agreement shall remain in full force and in effect,” read the addended agreement.
When the lodging tax was initially established, some counties contracted with a 501(c) organization, such as the Chamber of Commerce. The agreement is considered a public/private partnership for this reason.
“It’s something we can give back to our community as long as it’s a tourism-related product,” Chairman Jamie Hensley added.
In 2019, the board of commissioners voted to send the hotel/motel increase proposal to the General Assembly. It’s a one percent increase from the current five percent tax rate. The General Assembly passed an up to eight percent increase, but the commissioners only approved going up to six percent.
The tax use is restricted to tourism product development under the county and tourism marketing under the Chamber.
Fiscal Year 2020 Adjustments
Commissioners passed 2020 budget adjustments after auditors discovered the expenditures were slightly over for the year.
2020 financial statements were passed as well. The formality is to keep the books in line with state protocol.
The 2020 audit presentation will hopefully take place in October.
Whitepath Building for Sale
The Whitepath building has been listed for sale with the help of Economic Development Director Christie Gribble. It’s not an MLS real estate listing but is posted for sale on the economic development website.
A previous board purchased the building in 2019. In 2021 an inspection unveiled mold and some asbestos in the building.