GAINESVILLE – Budgetary discipline and slightly higher property appraisals mean no change to the Gainesville property millage rates. Abundant rainfall and tightening water management regulations mean a name change for the city’s Public Utilities Department.
Joey Leverette, Distribution and Collection System Manager for the Public Utilities Department, told the Gainesville City Council at their work session Thursday morning that the resolution he was presenting to them reflected the new emphasis water management had at the Public Utilities Department.
The resolution would allow the city to create and fund a storm water management plan.
“Our storm water system in the city is aging…and there are some issues.” Leverette began. “We also have some water quality issues and some mandates from the state and federal government that we’re trying to meet.”
An additional action mentioned in the resolution being presented Leverette described as “historic”.
“This resolution will authorize the City Manager to proceed with renaming the Public Utilities Department,” Leverette said. “It’s a big step for us.”
“The new name would be ‘The Department of Water Resources’,” Leverette added.
City Manager Kip Padgett said the name change would be effective July 1, but the transition on signage and paper documents would take a bit longer.
Leverette explained the reasoning behind the change. “The idea is we cover all facets of water: drinking water, waste water and storm water. The (new) name kind of re-identifies what we’re all about.”
“Storm water is a utility…we feel like this gives us new direction and a new focus on our mission.”
“We’re trying to be pro-active,” Leverette said. “Instead of waiting until a street falls because of a storm failure to react, or instead of waiting until there’s a problem with Lake Lanier on water quality…we’re trying to be pro-active.”
Leverette said recent rains had brought storm water management problems to a head. “Quite frankly the calls…are coming out of the woodwork, wanting services. So we’re trying to develop some policies.”
Councilman George Wangemann pointed out that rainfall runoff is more than a city problem alone, and asked, “If we do this on our own without the assistance of other governmental entities…will this mean that just part of the problem gets corrected?”
Leverette responded, “You’re right, the water doesn't know where the city limits line is.” He told Council that the city was exploring partnerships with jurisdictions all around Lake Lanier.
CITY MILLAGE RATES TO REMAIN THE SAME
Administrative Services Director Melody Marlowe presented the City Council with the final draft of the FY 2016 Budget as well as the Ad Valorem tax rates (millage rates) for both the city and the school system to support the budget.
Bottom line for property owners: no increase in the millage rate.
Marlowe told Council members that the $30.76-million budget will be available for public hearing at the May 5th Council meeting. At that meeting will also be the first reading of the millage rate ordinances.
Those millage rates will stay at $3.02 per $1000 of taxable property value for the City, and $7.48 per $1000 of taxable property value for the city school district.
Tax bills would be mailed after approval of the budget and the millage rates by the City Council as well as the tax digest submitted to the state by Hall County, and would be due by December 1st.
