Brookhaven Announces Millage Rate Public Hearings

Brookhaven residents will have three opportunities to provide input on the city’s proposed millage rate.

The city has scheduled public hearings for:

• June 17 at 7 p.m.
• June 20 at 10:30 a.m.
• June 20 at 6:30 p.m.

The hearings will be held at the Brookhaven Municipal Court, 2 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 125, in Brookhaven.

The city council is scheduled to vote on the final millage rate on July 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the Brookhaven Municipal Court.

The city is currently operating under a 3.35 millage rate for fiscal year 2013 until the council and the mayor set the formal rate. Brookhaven’s city charter prohibits the council from raising the millage rate above 3.35 mills.

“We value the public’s input and want to hear from both residential and commercial property owners,” Mayor J. Max Davis said.

State law considers the millage rate a tax increase because as a new city, Brookhaven previously had a zero millage rate.

In March, the council approved a $16.465 million annual budget. The budget includes operating expenses for the city, including administration, police, community development, parks and recreation, public works, legal and other city services.

The budget is contingent on DeKalb County setting the HOST sales tax credit, the tax digest and property assessments as well as the city receiving franchise fees. The city’s revenue for this first year budget will be less than future years because the city is not drawing from a full year of revenue.

For more information on the city’s budget, visit http://brookhavenga.gov/finance.html.

This article was prepared by the city and edited for publication.