Commissioners to Discuss Changing Property Tax Collection Dates

The Meriwether County Commission will discuss what can be done to prevent property taxes from impacting families at Christmas.

Commissioner Bryan Threadgill had suggested at a previous meeting that a way be found to divide the tax bills into two payments, so that there is not such a hard impact at the holidays. He noted that it costs the county about $30,000 to send tax bills, and sending them twice a year would double that cost.

Currently, tax bills are sent in October, said County Administrator John Gorton, and residents always have the option to pay when the bill is received. Gorton said there is plenty of time to pay before the December 20 deadline, and that the timeline is determined by the county’s fiscal year, which ends September 30. Gorton added that there is a requirement for the county to submit the tax digest by September 1 each year, and that taxes cannot be calculated until the millage rate is set and the digest is approved by the Georgia Department of Revenue.

The Commissioners agreed to look into what can be done to prevent taxes being due in full at the Christmas holiday.

A request from the Meriwether County Fire Department to move the Fire Administration Offices to 756 Woodbury Highway, Building A, was discussed. Fire Chief Danny Stephens said the building would need very little in the way of renovation; just replacing one window with a door to provide unrestricted access, and repainting and minor repairs. Stephens said the work could be done by firefighters and using inmate labor at very little cost. Commissioner Gene King, however, pointed out that at the moment there are fire department buildings that are not being fully utilized, and asked why the offices could not be moved to one of those buildings instead of spending taxpayer funds for renovating the Woodbury Highway location.

Threadgill said that the county needs to do something with all of its buildings, and not let them sit unused for long periods of time. Commissioner Adam Worsley said that a plan for the building needs to be prepared. Also, King added that a location for the Coroner’s office was needed for discussion. The Commissioners voted to table the matter for discussion at the May 11 work session.

Stephens also requested Commission approval for an expenditure of $194,137 for purchase of an ambulance chassis and ambulance box remount. This triggered a discussion among the Commissioners regarding the ambulance fleet. Threadgill suggested purchasing a new ambulance each year and remounting as needed to keep the ambulance in the rotation. King pointed out that it takes 18 months to two years for a new ambulance to be delivered after being ordered, and the county should be ordering a new one now. Vice Chair Jennifer Snelson said a state procurement site could help the county save money on such purchases, and Chairman Emmett Collins recommended buying a new ambulance every two to three years and using remounts to keep the ambulances in the fleet. The Commission voted to approve the purchase of the chassis and remount as requested by Stephens.

In other business, the Meriwether County Commission:

• Was presented the annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2025 by Will Derzis of Mauldin and Jenkins;

• Introduced Coweta County Commissioner Jeff Fisher as the new Deputy County Administrator;

• Appointed Woodbury Mayor Dustin Hawkins to the Lake Meriwether Advisory Board to represent the city of Woodbury;

• Removed from the agenda approval of contracts for a digital law library for the Probate Court until they receive notice from the Superior Court about the issue;

• Tabled to the May 26 meeting a request from the city of Manchester for funding for the July 4 celebration; and

• Discussed the Fiscal Year 2025 financial audit and fund balance.

The next regular meeting of the Meriwether County Commission will be Monday, May 11, at 6 p.m.