Brookhaven City Council Sets 2013 Millage Rate

After four public hearings, the Brookhaven City Council voted to pass a 2.85-millage rate for the fiscal year 2013 at the city council meeting last night.  This is the first millage rate set by the City of Brookhaven and it is .5 mills lower than the maximum rate allowed in the city charter.  

“This is our first millage rate so there’s a lot of unknowns and uncertainties,” Councilmember Rebecca Williams said, noting that the 2.85-millage rate would allow for a small financial cushion in the city’s budget.

“I think it’s only fiscally prudent to have a rainy day fund,” Williams said, noting that without historical data it is difficult to determine how much of a cushion the city may need.

Mayor J. Maxis Davis received several phone calls last week from concerned citizens after rumors spread through the city claiming that the council planned to set the maximum millage rate of 3.35.

“There have been all sorts of mailings put up by anonymous groups claiming that we’re raising taxes- again, untrue,” Mayor J. Max Davis said. 

All members of the city council agreed that they wanted to set the lowest rate possible. 

“We went as far as we could go in good judgment to make sure that we were passing on the maximum amount of discount that we could to our residents,” Councilmember Joe Gebbia said.

Davis claimed that Dekalb County, not the city of Brookhaven, raised taxes on residents of cities like Brookhaven last year.

“Eventually, you will be paying less taxes in the city of Brookhaven than you would be paying in Dekalb County,” Davis said. 

Davis believes that Dekalb County will eventually have to undo the changes made last year, lowering taxes for residents of cities within Dekalb County.