The city of Cornelia approved its 2025 budget and millage rate on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
The $8.2 million budget, an increase of about $2.4 million from last year, included a 5% pay raise and cost of living adjustment for all city employees. The recent amphitheater project accounted for a majority ($2 million) of the budget’s increase.
Top expenses in the budget include the police department ($2.2 million), the fire department ($1.5 million), the recreation division ($2 million), general government operations ($803,787) and the city manager’s office ($452,940).
The city’s primary revenue sources include: taxes ($4.2 million), intergovernmental revenues ($1.6 million) and grants ($1 million).
The general fund operating costs increased by $326,796, most of which is due to rising personnel and insurance costs. The city utilized $794,682 from the general fund and $1.5 million from the water and sewer fund for a balanced budget.
Cornelia officials are likely to call for a 5% increase in water fees as well as a 12% rate hike in garbage fees for next year, according to city documents.
Growth and the millage rate
Cornelia’s City Commission voted to maintain the current millage rate of 9.5 mills.
A mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 in taxable property value. In Cornelia, property is taxed at 40% of its value.
City officials reported solid growth numbers in Cornelia in 2024, with a gross tax digest of more than $333 million – an increase of over $38 million from last year – which comes as a result of an inflationary increase of existing property owners ($20 million), new growth ($4.6 million) and personal property growth ($12 million).
