The Pierce County Commission has scheduled a series of three public hearings to receive input on a proposed 1.872 mill increase in property tax rates this year.
The hearings are scheduled for 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 6 and for 6 p.m. Thursday, November 13.
All three hearings will be held at the NFC Building (Southeast Georgia Regional Agricultural Center) at 705 College Avenue, Blackshear.
By state law, the county must hold three public hearings to receive citizen comments before approving the millage rate and budget.
The hearings were originally scheduled for last week and this week, but were postponed due to an error by The Times on ad size for the public hearings.
The ads were smaller than those required by the state to give adequate public notice. Revised public notices on the hearings were published in last week’s edition of The Times.
The proposed millage rate increase will fund the county’s proposed $17.9 million budget.
The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $100,000 is approximately $71.14 and the proposed tax increase for nonhomestead property with a fair market value of $100,000 is approximately $74.88.
The county has faced a $1.6 million budget deficit this year, largely due to increases in the recreation department (up about $368,000), funding a three percent across the board salary increase ($250,000) and increases to group insurance and EMS expenses. Other big ticket spending items include sheriff's office and public works.
The budget already includes $700,000 from the county’s cash reserves to help close the gap. Some money will be kept in reserve for emergencies.
A called meeting to set the millage rate and adopt the budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17.
If the millage rate increase is approved, tax bills will likely not be due until after new year’s 2026.
