UPSON BOC NO TAX MILLAGE HIKE

THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL KEEP THE SAME MILLAGE RATES FOR 2017—BUT AT TUESDAY'S MEETING THEY LET IT BE KNOWN TAXES WILL LIKELY RISE IN 2018.

—THE BOARD ADOPTED A COUNTY-WIDE MILLAGE RATE OF 9.52 MILLS FOR 2017 DOWN FROM 9.77 IN 2016—A ROLLBACK BASED ON THE REVALUATION OF PROPERTY. THAT'S ESTIMATED TO YIELD JUST UNDER $10 MILLION. SOME TAX BILLS MIGHT GO UP DUE TO REVALUATION —BUT THE COMMISSIONERS WILL NOT HAVE TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS REQUIRED BY THE STATE FOR A TAX INCREASE.

UNINCORPORATED AND JOINT PROJECTS MILLAGE RATES REMAIN THE SAME.

CHAIRMAN NORMAN ALLEN SAID THE UPCOMING EMPLOYEE SALARY STUDY BY THE UGA VINSON INSTITUTE WILL PROBABLY IMPACT THE 2018 BUDGET—PLUS HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS AND EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT COULD GOBBLE-UP 2 MILLS OF TAX.

COMMISSIONER JAMES ELLINGTON STRESSED CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS NEED TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE BOARD WITH THEIR 2018 BUDGETS .