City of] Reidsville City Council Called Meeting Monday October 3, 2022 5:00 p.m.  FILE  Draft Copy- Not approved by Council until November 14. 2022  The Reidsville City Council held a "Special Called Meeting" on Monday October 3, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m. Purpose oft thei meeting wast toi revisit thei millage rate which previously set. Council members  present were:  Lindsay Bennett Carolyn Crume- Blackshear Donald Prestage Doug Williams Verdie Williams  City Attorney DuAnn Cowart-Davis was absent on medical leave. Nivea Jackson, City Clerk was present. Mayor Curtis Colwell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Colwell led the meeting in prayer and the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance aloud in unison. Mayor Colwell began by informing the Council that ai meeting was necessary to be called concerning the millage rate that was set previously on September 29th and that the scheduled Planning Session would take place immediately after the special called meeting. Mayor Colwell turned the floor overto Councilwoman Blackshear to explain why we were having a called meeting, and to explain the five-year tax history, the tax digest, the PT 32 millage rate, and how the calculations were derived. She stated that, "on Thursday, September 29th, the Council voted to leave the current millage at 7 percent. This vote would raise City taxes and no public meetings had been held to make citizens aware of the tax hike and fulfill the legal steps to raise City taxes. She also stated that "On Friday, September 30th, after our regular finance meeting, I tried reaching out to all Councilmembers by phone, and left voice messages as well concerning the issue. wanted to let everyone know what I had learned concerning the millage rate, and why we needed to revisit the tax rate immediately. Council members were given PT32 and PT38 to help with the explanation. Susan Thomas, former City Clerk was in the audience and asked questions pertinent to the explanation. "Taxes were due to the State by October 1St. A Public hearing would have to happen prior to this date, to raise the taxes, and because of the state's due date, this could not be possible!" Blackshear stated, "The 6.806 is the figure derived by the Department of Revenue website used to not cause ai tax increase to citizens. Thomas says that ifthe taxes are not raised this year and raised next year, it may seem like a large tax hike to the citizens. Blackshear stated, "we cannot legally raise the taxes without those hearings and making the public aware oft the increase. However, the city will still get more revenue than last year because property values hancinad/Coumcimen  Doug Williams made a motion to accept the millage at 6.806 instead of7.0  Motion by: Doug Williams 2nd by: Verdie Williams Vote: Carried unanimously  Meeting Adjourned at 5:20 p.m.    City of Reidsville City Council Called Meeting Monday October 3, 2022 5:00 p.m.  FILE  Draft Copy- Not approved by Council until November 14. 2022  The Reidsville City Council held a "Special Called Meeting" on Monday October 3, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m. Purpose ofther meeting wast toi revisit the millage rate which previously set. Council members  present were:  Lindsay Bennett Carolyn Crume- Blackshear Donald Prestage Doug Williams Verdie Williams  City Attorney DuAnn Cowart-Davis was absent on medical leave. Nivea. Jackson, City Clerk was present. Mayor Curtis Colwell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Colwell led the meeting in prayer and the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance aloud in unison. Mayor Colwell began by informing the Council that a meeting was necessary to be called concerning the millage rate that was set previously on September 29th and that the scheduled Planning Session would take place immediately after the special called meeting. Mayor Colwell turned the floor overto Councilwoman Blackshear to explain why we were!l having a called meeting, and to explain the five-year tax history, the tax digest, the PT 32 millage rate, and how the calculations were derived. She stated that, "on Thursday, September 29th, the Council voted to leave the current millage at 7 percent. This vote would raise City taxes and no public meetings had been held to make citizens aware oft the tax hike and fulfill the legal steps to raise City taxes. She also stated that "On Friday, September 30th, after our regular finance meeting, I tried reaching out to all Councilmembers by phone, and left voice messages as well concerning the issue. wanted to let everyone know what I had learned concerning the millage rate, and why we needed to revisit the tax rate immediately. Council members were given PT32 and PT38 tol help with the explanation. Susan Thomas, former City Clerk was in the audience and asked questions pertinent to the explanation. "Taxes were due to the State by October 1st. A Public hearing would have to happen prior to this date, to: raise the taxes, and because of the state's due date, this could not be possible!" Blackshear stated, "The 6.806 is the figure derived by the Department of Revenue website used to not cause a tax increase to citizens. Thomas says thatifthe taxes are not raised this year and raised next year, it may seem like a large tax hike to the citizens. Blackshear stated, "we cannot legally raise the taxes without those hearings and making the public aware oft the increase. However, the city will still get more revenue than last year because property values haveir inereased."Counciliman  Doug Williams made ai motion to accept the millage at 6.806 instead of7.0  Motion by: Doug Williams 2nd by: Verdie Williams Vote: Carried unanimously  Meeting Adjourned at 5:20 p.m.