By Vince lennon
Trenton, GA – Dade County’s second public hearing on a proposal to keep the current 7.75 millage rate unchanged strayed off topic so often Wednesday night, Dade County Commissioners had to personally address the growing opposition to a proposed county election building to be constructed in Trenton.
The two distinct subjects were similarly blurred by both tax weary citizens and a commission caught between rising property values impacting the local tax digest, to the point some on the panel claim they’re losing sleep over the higher cost of living in Dade County.
But the ensuing back and forth between some outspoken community members and responding commissioners reflects a hesitance in keeping the status quo.
District 2 Commissioner Philip Hartline reiterated his call for a 50 mill rollback to a 725 millage rate, as he did in Wednesday morning’s initial hearing. Hartline says the proposed rollback would provide sorely needed relief for property owners, some of whom are experiencing “sticker shock” from tax bills fueled by rapidly rising property valuations.
Hartline claimed the cost disparity of his proposed rollback would equate to approximately $83,000 less in county revenue.
He suggested the offset would be quickly realized with greater belt tightening on the county’s $15,600,000 operational budget.
County Executive Don Townsend asked Hartline where he would begin in reducing county services for savings, which prompted a flurry of jeers from the audience on the proposed county election building.
As much as Townsend tried to keep the hearing discussion centered on millage, citizens continually steered their outrage to the ballooning construction bids on the elections building.
Hearing the outcry, District 1 Commissioner Dr. Bill Pullen suggested rehabilitating the old North Dade Elementary campus as a possible storage option for election equipment.
District 3 Commissioner Bob Woods agreed with Pullen in taking a closer look at repurposing county owned properties, before committing to constructing a new building. But Woods quickly conceded that Dade County’s elections office is in need of greater space now and will need more in the future to accommodate a growing region.
“Chattanooga is coming, in fact it’s already here,” said Townsend, who contests recent census numbers that likely do not reflect Dade County’s new arrivals.
Townsend reminded all that the Elections Building topic is set for another public hearing, slated for September 2nd at 5pm.
Regarding the millage rate, one more public hearing is set for Wednesday, August 27th at 4pm.
It precedes a specially called commissioners’ meeting for 4:30pm, for a vote to approve the 2025 millage rate.
11 AM Meeting
6PM Meeting