The Nahunta City Council approved the tentative 2025 Millage Rate during Monday night’s meeting.
The council voted to tentatively increase the rate one mill from 11.494 to 12.494 at the November 3, 2025 meeting.
Council members were presented the five-year tax digest history. The rollback was 10.109 and if they go with the rollback, they will only increase their property taxes by $36,000 which is not enough to cover the FY26 budget.
City Clerk Angie Wirth spoke to Mayor Marty Lee and council members letting them know she did an increase of one mill.
“This will increase us $124,148 for the year which will cover the increase of our property taxes on the budget,” Wirth said.
She also reminded the council they have used the rollback over the last three years which has dropped property taxes as a result.
The millage rate dropped from 11.75 in 2021 to 11.556 in 2022 to 11.549 in 2023 to 11.4940 in 2024.
The net tax dollar increase is projected at $124, 148 for a 39 percent increase. Last year showed a loss of of 30.19% with a $137,674 shortfall.
The council also voted to hold a millage hearing Monday, November 17 at 10 a.m., as well as two meetings Tuesday, November 18 at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., with a called meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Three public hearings are required when the millage rate is increased.
The council discussed utility bills for the rest of 2025. They voted to move to suspend all utility cut offs until January 1, 2026 as well as suspend all late fee accumulations between now and the end of the year.
Council members also wanted to defer late fees if possible. The council still needs to look at the letters of conditions from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) to make sure those conditions are in compliance.
Council members discussed and approved the 2026 meeting calendar. The only change made was moving the September meeting, which was originally scheduled for Monday, September 7, to Monday, September 14.
The reason for the change is because of a court date on Tuesday, September 8.
Council members approved to give out both Thanksgiving gift cards and Christmas bonuses in the amount of $100 for Thanksgiving and $150 for Christmas.The Christmas bonuses will be on checks.
Former Mayor Barbara Maefield spoke asking the council to purchase microphones for future meetings.
Mittie Vaughan also addressed the council to have the Brantley County Express be the legal organ for 2026.
“The Brantley County Express has been here for 21 and a half years,” she said. “We’ve worked hard to cover the news and make the community look good.”
The council will vote during the December meeting to determine the legal organ between the Express and The Brantley Beacon, which has covered community news for 11 and a half years.
Councilman Andrew Altman discussed the 100-year anniversary of the train crash at Knox Street which occurred November 2, 1925. Altman acknowledged the lives of young children lost that day when a school bus carrying 30 children was struck by a passenger train headed southbound at the railroad crossings.
“I have placed some articles on the City’s Facebook page that have some clippings from Wyoming and the New York Times,” Altman said.
See story at top of page.
City Manager Tom Wirth stood in for Police Chief Brad Todd to give the Nahunta Police Department report for October.
The monthly report consisted of 351 E911 calls, 241 traffic stops, 115 citations issued, 126 warnings issued, 13 accident reports filed, four miscellaneous reports filed and zero arrests made. There were also zero juvenile arrests and zero code enforcement complaints.
The city manager gave the Street/Water Department report which consisted of 437 work orders for the month of October.
Angie Wirth, during her City Clerk report, asked the council about this year’s Christmas Dinner. The council voted to have the dinner Thursday, December 18 at L.L. Creek in Waycross.
The next Nahunta City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 1 at 7 p.m.
