City Council voted Monday to maintain Milton’s millage rate, with officials stressing the long-term wisdom of funding major projects sooner rather than pushing them off to when costs could have soared significantly.

“It’s very important that we maintain a high level of service,” said Mayor Peyton Jamison. “All [lowering the rate] does is kick these pay-go projects down the road to a future Council.”

Last year, the Council lowered the millage rate for the second time. The maintenance and operating millage rate of 4.389 approved Monday was that lower rate – not the higher “capped” rate the City of Milton has had for the vast majority of its existence. The Council also approved a 0.356 greenspace bond rate (for the voter-approved $25 million greenspace bond) as part of the same vote.

These decisions came after the third and final public hearing on the millage rate. During each one, Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill defined key terms, detailed exemption and other saving options, and explained other aspects of the property tax process. She also went through a financial metrics comparison to neighboring cities, with Milton being the second lowest in average per capita spending.

Harvill presented two millage rate options, projecting a just over $800,000 difference in revenues between adopting the 4.389 millage rate versus a 4.171 “rollback.” She also shared a hypothetical tax bill in which an over $1 million property with standard exemptions would see its Milton tax bill rise $36.31 over four years, a period in which its value increased about 60 percent, if the 4.389 rate was adopted.

When the Council adopted lower millage rates previously, it did so by adjusting funding for some “pay-go” projects (because there was less revenue to work with). Councilmembers cautioned putting off projects could negatively impact the City if inflation continues to drive costs appreciably higher.

They discussed examples like redoing Legacy Park’s parking lot, building a gym/community center, and soundly investing in the Deerfield/Highway 9 area. Referring to the latter, Mayor Jamison said, “We’re going to get our money back if we invest in the right way.”

UPDATE ON GDOT HIGHWAY 9 PROJECT

The millage rate vote came during a Special Called Meeting, which followed a Work Session earlier on Monday evening.

The Work Session began with City Manager Steve Krokoff talking briefly about progress on priority projects, such as potential moves to incentivize large lots and movement toward creating a new active park. The City recently closed on a 21.4-acre property along Deerfield Parkway and is seeking to partner with a consultant to team up with City leaders and the community by transforming this space into a park.

Special Projects Director Bob Buscemi then updated the Council on the widening-and-then-some project on Highway 9, which the Georgia Department of Transportation halted earlier this year.

The first part is “decommissioning” what was done before that happened. This involves resodding, fence work, and removing debris (like fallen trees) and equipment. Buscemi said that this process is  going well, with GDOT actively reaching out to impacted property owners.

The second part involves more long-term changes along Highway 9. Buscemi said GDOT officials have expressed openness to several City proposals, such as reducing the corridor’s speed limit to 35 mph and steps that would make space for additional landscaping.

COUNCIL GIVES DIRECTION ON BRIDGE ENHANCEMENTS

The Council also discussed another transportation item during the Work Session – specifically, the look of Milton bridges on Birmingham Road, Hopewell Road, and Freemanville Road that are set to be replaced in the coming years.

GDOT will undertake and, for the most part, fund these projects. The City of Milton has the option of adding enhancements to beautify and distinguish these bridges – so long as it pays for them.

Engineering Project Manager Rob Dell-Ross shared several alternatives on Monday. The Council favored going with brown painted guardrails instead of standard metallic gray ones. They also expressed a preference for a stone-look on the bridge walls, rather than a concrete form liner design.

Later, the Council could consider options for further customizing the bridge, which would come with additional design costs.

PRESENTATATION OF DRAFT FY25 BUDGET

This discussion was followed by Deputy City Manager Harvill’s presentation on a draft proposal for the budget for Fiscal Year 2025, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30, 2025. This is purposefully done before the millage rate vote, since that final rate and the resulting revenues impact what the City can pay for.

Her detailed presentation follows several presentations soliciting feedback from Council, and the public, on specific items that began in June. The entire process should culminate on September 16 when the Council votes on a final budget.

Harvill went through projected revenues before proceeding – department-by-department – to an expenditure breakdown. She presented on proposed new initiatives, such as bringing aboard 11 more firefighters to staff Station 45 that will be constructed by the Birmingham Highway/Providence Road roundabout. There was also discussion of prospective capital initiatives like future renovations to the Milton Police building’s basement, historic McConnell-Chadwick House, and Bethwell Community Center.

The presentation can be viewed HERE: https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showdocument?id=7727.

The City Council is next scheduled to convene the evening of August 19 for a Regular Meeting.