Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Commissioner Larry Black listens as Sheriff Gary Sisk speaks during a Catoosa County Commission meeting on Monday, June 27, 2022, in Ringgold, Ga.After two public meetings in which Catoosa County residents heaped criticism on the county commission for proposing a property tax increase, the commission is set to approve next year's budget -- and the tax hike.
"With our proposed budget, we feel like we have cut as much as we can cut and still serve the 70,000 people of Catoosa County," Larry Black, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, said in a phone interview.
Catoosa County's proposed $36.5 million budget is up 11% -- or $3.6 million -- from last year's budget, according to budget records.
Inflation, salary increases and increased spending on school safety prompted the five commissioner to recommend a 30% property tax hike. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
The millage rate in the county's proposed budget is 7.568 mills, an increase of 1.75 mills (30%) over the "rollback rate" of 5.818, which is the amount that would be levied to bring in the same amount of tax revenue despite increasing property values.
The proposed tax increase would add an additional $117.84 per year to the tax bill of a home with a market value of $175,000 who receives a homestead exemption, officials estimate. The proposed tax increase for nonhomestead property with the same value would be $121.31.
The property tax increase would be the first in six years.
(READ MORE: Catoosa County, Georgia, residents suggest cuts to avoid property tax increase)
In the public meetings about the budget, Catoosa County residents asked the commission to find ways to avoid a property tax increase. James Coles, a Catoosa County resident, said he could "survive" a tax increase, but many people living through difficult economic times may not.
Black said the commission has cut $2 million from the proposed budget since the budget process began, but no changes have been made since two public meetings earlier in the month.
The biggest portion of the tax increase the commission is requesting is for public safety -- fire and police -- including hiring 11 armed school resource officers to protect elementary schools, Black said.
"That was important to us, and that was another reason we had to increase the taxes," he said.
Black said residents should examine whether they qualify for property tax exemptions, including those for elders and others for agricultural land.
"There's always people a phone call away at the tax assessor's office, tax commissioner's office, that can help explain some of these exemptions," Black said.
(READ MORE: Walker County, Georgia, proposes property tax increase)
Another property tax exemption has been passed by the Catoosa commissioners and awaits action from Georgia's General Assembly to allow it to appear on the county's ballot. If approved, homeowners 62-years-old and older would have their homestead exemption for general government raised 50% to $30,000, equal to the county school district's homestead exemption.
In neighboring Walker County, property values increased an average 25%, according to Terry Gilreath, the county's chief appraiser. In Whitfield County, the assessed value of residential properties rose an average 22%, according to Whitfield County officials.
Contact Andrew Wilkins at awilkins@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659. Follow him on Twitter @tweetatwilkins.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners is expected to adopt or reject the fiscal year 2023 proposed budget Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Catoosa County Administrative Building, 800 LaFayette St. in Ringgold.