The Demorest City Council will meet twice on Tuesday, October 15, and hold three public hearings.
First meeting
The first public hearing will be held at 12 p.m. for the public to comment on the proposed millage rate increase. Staff recommended that the millage rate increase 1 mill from 6.16 to 7.16 mills. The increase is based on the city’s proposed 2025 budget.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite gave three options for the city council to consider related to the millage rate at their October 1 work session. He explained that the council could roll the millage rate back, leave it static, or increase it 1 mill.
For the first two options, they would require the budget to be cut, an action that would be taken by the council. The third option is raising the millage rate 1 full mill that would require three public hearings. The third public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22.
Public hearings would have also been required should the council decide to leave the millage rate static at 6.16 mills. The state views any action other than a full millage rate rollback as a property tax increase.
The council did not commit to any of the options presented at the October 1 work session.
Second meeting
The second meeting will be held at 5 p.m. During the second meeting, the city council will hold two public hearings. The public hearings will be for the public to provide comments on the proposed millage rate and the proposed budget.
Following the public hearings, the council will discuss the updated land use map and ordinance, ISO fire related issues, and terminating a sewer bore contract.
Both meetings will be held at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center at 250 Alabama Street in Demorest.
