TRENTON, Ga. – Dade County officials will have a busy couple days next week.
The commissioners expect to receive this year’s tax digest Tuesday, which will show them the combined worth of all the properties in the county. By Thursday evening at 5 p.m., when they gather at the administrative office for a special called hearing, they will have to settle on a final budget.
As it stands, they’re looking at a $600,000 deficit right now. But Dade County Executive Ted Rumley hopes that problem will solve itself. He didn’t have firm figures after a meeting Thursday, but he said he’s seen enough building permits come through his office the last three years to seriously boost the property values on a lot of land.
If those values are indeed up, the commissioners will have the option to lower the property tax rate, saving some residents money. Rumley doesn’t expect to do that.
“We’ll accept the growth,” he said. “We’re not going to roll [the rate] back.”