Dalton cuts property tax rate

Charles Oliver

August 04, 2008 09:07 pm

— For more than a year, Dalton Mayor David Pennington has said the city “probably has the second highest city taxes in the state of Georgia next to Atlanta.”
“I will no longer be saying that,” Pennington said Monday after the City Council voted 4-0 to cut the city’s general government property tax rate to 3.002 mills from 3.66.
Council members said that will not only roll back the tax rate to offset any gains from property reassessments but also cut the portion other than recreation 20 percent. The city currently dedicates 1 mill of property taxes to the recreation department. Voters will decide in November whether to keep that dedicated recreation tax.
Pennington said the tax cut will cost the city government about $1.431 million. The city’s previous tax rate would bring in about $5.17 million.
Pennington said the city budget currently has a surplus of about $1.151 million. In addition, officials expect about $156,000 in savings from moving to weekly garbage pickup.
Council members said they are confident the city can make the cut without unduly affecting services.
“We are tightening our belts and trimming fat wherever we can. It may not be completely painless, but I think we can get through it,” said council member Denise Wood.
Council member George Sadosuk agreed.
“I’m very comfortable with what we have done,” he said. “It can be done.”
Council member Charlie Bethel said the city is looking for ways to provide residents with the best value for their money.
“We are striving to keep a consistent level of service with what their expectations are, with what the value they perceive they are getting for the dollars that are coming out of their pockets,” he said.
Pennington also commended the Downtown Dalton Development Authority for last week cutting its tax rate 25 percent to 2.25 mills from 3 mills.
Council members also voted 4-0 to:
• Accept property just east of Garcia’s restaurant on Walnut Avenue from Barrett Family Partnership. City officials said they plan a greenspace park on the site.
• Approve an agreement with Crystal Air/TNT Leasing of Tennessee to run a full fixed-base operation at the city airport. Crystal will pay the city $1,200 a year plus 3 cents for each gallon of fuel bought at the airport.
• Approve a beer package license for Shell Food Mart at 2501 E. Walnut Ave. and a beer pouring license for 5th Quarter Pub at 618 S. Hamilton St.
• Allow the Historic Preservation Commission to apply for an $8,000 state heritage tourism grant to help create a walking tour and brochure for West Hill Cemetery.
Cathy Snyder, chairman of the preservation commission, asked council members to consider creating fines for violations of historic district guidelines. Snyder said the commission’s goal is not to punish people but to get them to come to the commission before making any changes that might violate the guidelines.
But Andy Rollins, who said he resides in a historic district, asked council members to reject the request.
Members of local condominium owners associations asked council members to provide garbage pickup for condominium residents. They asked why the city provides recycling collection for some condominiums.
Public works director Benny Dunn said garbage trucks do not go down private streets that do not meet city standards. He said the recycling trucks are much lighter and can go down some streets that garbage trucks cannot.
The council also held the first reading of an ordinance that would cut its pouring license fee for distilled spirits to $2,000 from $4,000. Beer and wine license fees would not be changed. Pennington said city fees for distilled spirits licenses were much higher than those of comparable Georgia cities.