City Lowers Millage Rate

Community, Police & Government
millage 2021 meeting

Blairsville, Ga – Blairsville City Council voted to unanimously lower the millage rate during the August meeting.

Previously set at 1.945 percent, Mayor Jim Conley ran the numbers and discovered that by lowering the millage rate to 1.895 percent would only cost the county $202 a year.

It’s a 0.5 percent reduction in current millage rates and saves the city from having to advertise about the city’s rate.

“What all these numbers boil down to, if we go with the current millage rate, there [are] about three different advertising dates that we have to do,” explained Conley, “But if we drop it to 1.895 percent, we would have to do no advertising and only lose $202.”

Councilmember Robert Moore added, “We’ve gone down from 2.0 percent to 1.945 percent, and now I propose, we go down to 1.895.”

“I got the email, and I read it,” stated Councilmember Tony Dyer, “It’d be easier on us, and we’re only losing $200 – $300 a year. I’d think we want to go down that percentage point.”

Dyer added that lowering the millage rate might help constituents.

Dyer seconded Moore’s motion to drop the millage rate, and all councilmembers approved of the decision.

Additionally, the city repurposed an old police 2010 Ford Explorer and turned it into a city car. The car remains at city hall, and the mayor will drive it to and from functions and meetings.

“It’s the first Explorer that we ever purchased and made a police car out of it when it, really was not a police car. That car is decommissioned now,” said Conley, “we’d like to get the council’s permission to use that car as the city car. I would drive my vehicle to and from work and use this for all city business.”

Council unanimously approved of the repurposing.

County Events

Downtown Development Authority Program Manager Darren Harper addressed upcoming events and associated income.

The Green Bean Festival brought in $3,600 in revenue, up from last year, with 45 vendors. Harper’s already looking into improving next year’s festival.

“[Farmer’s Market’s] only open on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. ish, but our festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. So, I’ve already reached out to them to find out how we can make it more cohesive,” explained Harper, “The only complaint I’ve had is lack of green beans.”

Green beans came in earlier this year, and Farmer’s Market sold out at 8 a.m.

Some downtown businesses took in $2,000 – $3,000 in revenue from the festival.

Taste of the Mountains is Aug. 24 on the square and benefits North Georgia Technical College with over 26 participating vendors. Last year, the festival took in $11,000 for the city.

So far, the city has profited by $6,372 from festivals in 2019.

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