Demorest City Council Millage Rate & Budget Public Hearing Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250. Alabama St Demorest, GA 30535  Thursday, October. 26, 2023 . 6:00F P.M.  Shawn Allen, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor John Hendrix, Councilman  Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney viaz zoom Mark Musselwhite, City Manager via zoom  The October 26, 2023, Demorest City Council Millage Rate & Budget Public Hearing was heldi in  the Demorest Municipal Conference Center located at 250 Alabama Street.  1. INVOCATION  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leadingi in prayer.  2. CALL TO ORDER  Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness called for a motion to approve the agenda as presented. A motion to approve the agenda a presented was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as presented was unanimously approved (4-0).  Ferguson.  4. PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2023 MILLAGE RATE  Mr. Mitchell announced, "The Demorest City Council has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 16.51% percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this taxi increase to be held at Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Georgia on October 26, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. This tentative increase will result ina a millage rate of6.16 mills, an increase of. .873 mills. Without this tentative increase, the millage rate will be no more than! 5.287 mills. The proposed taxi increase for al home with at fair market value of $175,000is approximately $61.11 and the proposed taxi increase for non-homestead property with at fair market value of $225,000 is approximately $78.57". Mr. Mitchell called for public comment. No comments were made. Harkness reiterated that the millage rate was 6.161 last year and that this is not ani increase toi the millage, iti is an increase to property value from the county of their tax digest. There were no  1/Page    comments. The public hearing was closed and Mayor Harkness called forav vote. AI motion to accept the 2023 Millage Rate at 6.16 mils was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman ACTION:The motion to accept the 2023 Millage Rate at 6.16 mils was unanimously approved  Hendrix. (4-0).  5. PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2024 BUDGET  Mr. Mitchell announced, "The Mayor and Council of the City of Demorest shall conduct public hearings regarding the proposed fiscal year 2024 budget for the City of Demorest on October 26, 2023 at6:00 p.m. at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Georgia. A draft of the proposed budget is available fori inspection and review at City Hall, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Georgia. Any person wishing to be heard on the budget may appear and be heard during the public hearings". Mr. Mitchell called for public comment. For convenience, Councilman Hendrix would like the city to consider installing a drive-thru in the future. Councilman Allen reiterated that if something is in the budget, expensive things still have to come back inf front of council for approval. Mr. Mitchell closed the public hearing. Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to ACTION: The motion approve the 2024 Draft Budget #4 was unanimously yapproved (4-0). 6. CONSIDERATION OF LEASING A ROOM AT THE CITY HALL BUILDINGTO  approve the 2024 Draft Budget #4 and was seconded by Councilman Allen.  HABERSHAM COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY  Ms. Audrey Davenport presented October 12, 2023 asking the city to consider allowing the Habersham County Historical Society to move into the new city hall complex. Councilman Allen stated the Historical Society would not get a second room as they would combine in with the current history room at City Hall and they are aware that if they are going to staff the museum that it would have to be within operating hours of City Hall. Allen stated that Stewart Swanson is willing to commit tol help pay for things that need to be done to the room to help them move in. He mentioned that we are waiting on the Post Office to determine where they will be located to be able to determine where the current history room will be relocated to. The Historical Society is asking for councils' agreement to proceed with giving them a lease fora a room. Councilman Bennett recommends a year-by-year lease. Council is in agreeance to allow Councilman Allen to communicate with the Historical Society to let them know that the cityi is working towards a lease for them to call Demorest City Hall their new home. 7. CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION  There was not an executive session.  2/Page    8. MOTION TO ADJOURN  Amotion to adjourn was made by Councilman Ferguson and the motion was seconded by Councilman Bennett. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 6:18  p.m.  -  MayorofDemoresf  -  @  ABERSHP  Demorest City Clerk  3Page