The city of Ellijay officially advertised its five year tax history Monday, September 17th in order to meet the state requirements before setting the city’s new millage rate. According to the advertisement pursuant to the requirements of Official Code of Georgia Section 48-5-32, the city’s new proposed 2012 millage rollback rate is 3.552 mills, an increase of .349 mills from the city’s 2011 3.552 millage rate.

In a September 10th Ellijay budget hearing, Ellijay Mayor Al Hoyle announced that the city might be raising its millage rate just to meet the city’s current needs, due to a decrease in the county’s tax digest. According to this year’s digest, the county’s tax base decreased from $79,378,423 to $71,364,794, causing the millage rate to increase.

With the announcement of the rollback millage rate, the city will likely increase taxes. The new number, however, is not official. The city will officially set the millage rate at a meeting on October 22nd at 6:00 p.m.

Also, in a city council meeting on Monday September 17th, Mayor Hoyle officially presented the city’s 2012 budget to the city council.

While making the presentation, Hoyle explained the hearing was also a requirement of the State of Georgia before the city can accept its 2012 budget.

According to the O. C. G. A. 36-81-5, “at least one week prior to the meeting of the governing authority at which the budget ordinance or resolution will be considered, the governing authority shall conduct a public hearing, at which time any persons wishing to be heard on the budget may appear.”

In the same announcement of the city’s five year tax history today, the city council announced that a public hearing to discuss the budget has been scheduled for October 1, 2012 at 5:15 pm at City Hall. Then, on October 22nd, the city plans to adopt its budget in the same meeting, when it will also adopt the millage rate.The budget can now be reviewed at the Mayor’s office at 197 North Main Street.

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A copy of the five year tax levy is below: