We have just renewed the domain name. Look for future improvements in the next month or so. Please be patient as we create a new look and experience for you. We will be trying to move the board so we can improve functionality and have a way for local ads,
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:58 pm Posts: 2179
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 21 time
Seems to me that Both "Tha Fluffer" and us missed the fact that this meeting was and did take place.... ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City's Millage Rate Will Remain Unchanged 9/21/2011
By: Robin Ford Wallace, Reporter
At a special called meeting Monday afternoon, the Trenton City Commission toyed briefly with the idea of raising its millage rate but in the end decided to leave it alone, at least for the time being.
“I just hate to put the burden, unless we absolutely have to, on the taxpayer,” said Mayor Barton Harris during a workshop session before he called the meeting to order.
He suggested instead trying to get by one more year on the 3.5 percent millage rate the city currently collects, meanwhile aggressively recruiting new businesses to open in Trenton and thus beef up the tax base.
City Clerk Lucretia Houts said the meeting had been called because the town needed to set its millage rate this week if at all possible in order to conform with county and state deadlines. She explained that in Trenton, each mill generated tax revenues of $80,000 to $82,000.
Trenton’s financial situation has been tight in the past year – readers may recall that the commission made headlines by cutting Dade’s public library out of its budget this winter – and April’s tornados didn’t help matters. Ms. Houts said that though numbers have not yet been solidified, after state and federal reimbursement the city’s share of tornado cleanup is expected to run $60,000 to $90,000. “There’s no way we can absorb the cleanup fee without raising the millage rate,” she said.
“One mill would just about cover the cleanup cost,” observed Fire and Utility Commissioner Tommy Lawson.
The commissioners, all of whom were present for the 5 p.m. meeting, seemed to give the matter serious consideration. “All I need to know is, is it going to benefit the city?” asked Police Commissioner Sandra Gray. “Is it going to put us in a place where we won’t be way in the red?”
And Streets Commissioner Greg Houts noted that if raising the millage taxes cost a taxpayer $40, the taxpayer had to see it was well worth it to get his yard cleared of tornado debris.
But Parks and Recreation Commissioner Chuck Cannon’s motion to raise the millage rate 1.5 mills to 5 died for lack of a second, and Tommy Lawson’s subsequent motion to leave the rate untouched was passed with only Cannon voting against.
The commissioners agreed the financial situation was grim. Tommy Lawson said that while Trenton’s Shaw plant was operational the sewage department had been able to tuck a little each year into reserves, but those days were over. “All we’re doing now is holding on,” he said.
They discussed cutting health insurance benefits to city employees to slim down the budget, but made no resolution to do so.
Mayor Harris said it was not necessary to absorb the entire tornado cleanup cost in one year, and Lucretia Houts reminded the commissioners they had already voted to apply for a $100,000 line of credit to cover the charge.
Ms. Houts said that during her 20-plus years as city clerk Trenton’s millage rate had been raised only once, to 4.5, then lowered back to 3.5 shortly thereafter.
Please re-read this article carefull and see who made a motion and who was "Fer" it till they had to vote or at least make the second for voting for it. I did like the statement that Lawson made about "Just holding on"... That's what we are all trying to do...lol..lol..
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:58 pm Posts: 2179
Has thanked: 0 time
Have thanks: 21 time
I guess folks would have wound up Wed. finding out that their taxes had been raised... All the media coverage over No beer and wine in the resturants but a TAX INCREASE????? No Problem!
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
