No tax increase for Hall Co. budget, but chairman says money is tight

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners got their first official look at the general fund budget for the upcoming fiscal year last night, and while there's no plan to increase the millage rate, Commission Chairman Dick Mecum said it's going to be a tight year financially.

"Much tighter than what we'd originally suspected," said Mecum, referencing another decrease in the tax digest, this year a 1.51% decrease, according to the latest estimates.

Even with that decrease and an uncertain amount of LOST revenues, the millage rate on the Fiscal Year 2014 budget holds at 6.25.

The proposed $89.1 million general fund budget has the county continuing its four-percent contribution to the county employee retirement fund, and there are no furlough days in the budget, either.

Hall County Finance Director Vickie Neikirk told commissioners any reduced revenues will be offset by a reduction in spending, as well as possible use of about $4 million in reserve funds.

While the general fund budget includes no tax hike or millage roll up, Neikirk did recommend to commissioners a roll up of either .5 or .75 mill for the county's fire fund. The additional revenue is needed to staff and equip a new fire station on Mt. Vernon Road in north Hall County.

Chairman Mecum said he was not sure which option his fellow commissioners would choose.

"In order to get what we need out of it, I'm more in favor of the three-quarter mill. We're not looking for a long term, but we're looking until we get our costs back," said Mecum.

The likely roll-up had been discussed at a community meeting in the north Hall area Tuesday night.

A final vote on the FY 2014 budget is set for June 27.