LUMPKIN COUNTY Board of Commissioners Public Hearing Agenda Commissioners Boardroom 99 Courthouse Hill Dahlonega, GA 30533 August 20, 2024 4:00 PM  COUNTI  DAHLONEGA 183  Call to Order.  Public Comment on Property Tax Increase  Adjournment    LUMPKIN COUNTY Board of Commissioners Public Hearing Minutes Commissioners Boardroom 99 Courthouse Hill Dahlonega, GA 30533 August 20, 2024 4:00 PM  OUNTI  Call to Order  The meeting was called to order at 4:02 pm. Present were Chairman Chris Dockery and Commissioners Tucker Greene, Citizen Ron Larson, 38 Cavender Run, came to comment on the insurance premium tax and why the millage ratei is different for citizens in the City of Dahlonega. He said the Commissioners have several options on how to use these funds, and he said they could use itt to equalize the millage rate between the unincorporated andi incorporated parts ofthe County. Mr. Larson said he doesn't understand what the difference is and why the City residents are charged more. Over 90% oft the cities and counties in Georgia have the same rate, he stated. The financial impact tot the City citizens is about Chairman Dockery said thei insurance premium tax was puti intoj place at the State level toi reduce property taxes, andi it goes toi fire protection. The tax collected within the City goes to the City, and the tax collected within the unincorporated County goes to the County. Thel law is very specific inl how we can apply the funds from the insurance premium tax, he explained. Since we doi not have a "pure" Fire Department andi iti is blended with EMS, we legally cannot apply thei funds for fire protection. Instead, iti is used to roll back property taxes. Iti is not that the City residents are paying more, iti is that they are not benefitting from the insurance premium tax. Chairman Dockery said he does notl know what the City does Mr. Larson said there are other uses besides fire protection listed in O.C.G.A. 33- 8-8.3, and he listed out thej possible uses. He said he finds it unusual that 90% oft the cities and counties in Georgia have figured out a way tol balance the millage rate equally. Chairman Dockery said the City could choose to use their funds to roll back taxes within the incorporated portion soi it would match the County. He said he is noti in favor ofraising our millage rate to use that money for something else within the County, and he urged Mr. Larson to speak with the City Council about how they spend their  Bobby Mayfield, and. Jeff! Moran. Commissioner Rhett Stringer arrived at 4:04 pm.  Public Comment on Property Tax Increase  2mills, or about $600,000.  with their funds from the tax.  portion. Adjournment  The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 pm. Sepkenfertz2ca4  Date Attest:  Chris Lumpkin County  MRE  Melissa Witcher Clerk, Lumpkin County Public Hearing August 20, 2024 1  Moalilidey