Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Thursday, September 3 at 5 p.m., in the main conference room of the Forsyth County Administration Building. Two topics that will be up for discussion are the proposed location for the Forsyth County Animal Shelter and proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan.

Animal Shelter: The public hearing will be to consider a proposal to locate the future Forsyth County Animal Shelter at a 15,800-square foot facility located at 1614 Peachtree Parkway. The purpose of this public hearing is to seek public input and hear concerns regarding the possible use of this site for a future animal shelter. A final decision regarding the use of this site has not been made. Additionally, Forsyth County is interested in receiving at the public hearing input and recommendations relative to other potential locations for a future animal shelter as well as public input relative to county construction and operation of a future animal shelter.

Comprehensive Plan: The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will also hold a public hearing regarding proposed changes to the Forsyth County Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of the public hearing shall be to present proposed changes to the Future Land Use (FLU) map and to receive public comment concerning these changes. Click here for additional details and to view related documents.

All residents and any other affected and/or interested persons are invited to attend. These hearings will be held in the Forsyth County Administration Building, located at 110 E. Main Street in Cumming on Thursday, September 3 at 5 p.m.

Labels: 2009, animal shelter, board of commissioners, comprehensive plan, forsyth county, future land use, location, public hearings, september

JOHNS CREEK, GA—The City of Johns Creek is currently in the process of establishing its 2009 millage rate. Because the city was not incorporated until Dec. 1, 2006, it cannot publish a five-year history of its tax digest, property tax revenues, and millage rate as is normally required. However, the city has published the information that is available for 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Each year the Fulton County Board of Tax Assessors is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county. When the trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicated there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the Board of Tax Assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment.

As a result of reassessment, the total amount of property tax collected by the city under the current millage rate is expected to decrease by 2 percent. This decrease does not include additional tax revenue generated by new construction and improvements to property.

Before the City of Johns Creek sets the final millage rate for 2009, three public hearings will be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions. All concerned citizens are invited to attend and participate in the public hearings, which will be held at Johns Creek City Hall Council Chambers, 12000 Findley Road, Suite 300, at the following dates and times:



Action to adopt the final millage rate for 2009 is scheduled to take place at the Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, which begins at 7 p.m.

Labels: fulton county, johns creek, millage rate, property tax, public hearings, tax assessor

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted a millage rate that will require an increase in the Maintenance and Operation property taxes and Fire property taxes.

The proposed county Maintenance and Operation rate is 4.502 mills, up from 3.834 mills in 2008. The proposed Fire rate is 1.841 mills, up from 1.765 mills in 2008. The proposed Bond rate remains at 1.196 mills. This represents a total millage increase of 0.744 mills.

The proposed Maintenance and Operations property tax increase would increase taxes on a home valued at $200,000 by approximately $48.09. The proposed Fire property tax increase would increase taxes on a home valued at $200,000 by approximately $5.47.

The proposed Maintenance and Operations property tax increase will help offset a projected deficit in the county's 2010 preliminary budget. The proposed Fire property tax increase will help fund the replacement of fire apparatus.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold three (3) public hearings to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions regarding the increase.

All concerned citizens are invited to attend the public hearings regarding this tax increase. The hearings will be held at the Forsyth County Administration Building located at 110 E. Main Street, Suite 220, in Cumming on Tuesday, July 14 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Thursday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Labels: cumming, forsyth county, georgia, property tax, property tax increase, public hearings

Forsyth County government is considering the implementation of increased water and sewer rates for 2009, to help offset projected revenue shortfalls. A Public Hearing regarding the proposed rate increases is scheduled for the January 8, 2009 Board of Commissioners meeting.

The proposed increase would change the residential water base rate from $12 for the first 3,000 gallons to $12 for the first 1,000 gallons. The senior citizen water base rate would change from $9 for the first 3,000 gallons to $9 for the first 1,000 gallons. Customers using 1,001 to 2,000 gallons monthly would pay an additional $3.40; those using 2,001 to 3,000 gallons monthly would pay an additional $6.80. The same tiered rates in effect now would remain in place for every additional 1,000 gallons used over 3,000 gallons.

The proposed new residential sewer base rate would be $10; the proposed sewer base rate for commercial accounts would be $20. In addition, accounts would be charged a usage fee in accordance with existing rates.

"The proposed water and sewer rate increases are necessary because of a decrease in revenues due to several factors including the ongoing drought, the outdoor water restrictions that remain in effect and the slowdown in development," Chief Financial Officer Bill Thomas said. "If the rates are not increased, we are projecting a $5 million operating loss for the Water and Sewer Department for 2009."

The rate increases would be considered interim, while Forsyth County awaits the completion of a rate study that will lead to development of a long-term approach. Thomas anticipates being able to present the rate study to the Board of Commissioners in the second quarter of 2009.

The Water and Sewer Department is an enterprise fund which does not utilize funding from the county's General Fund. Water and Sewer operations rely solely on user fees, and do not receive property taxes or sales tax. Water and Sewer operations are required, by accounting standards, to be self-supporting.

The Public Hearing on the proposed rate increases will be held Thursday, January 8, 2009 in Suite 220 of the County Administration Building, located at 110 E. Main St. in Cumming. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. All interested parties are invited and encouraged to attend.

Labels: forsyth county, public hearings, rate increase, sewer, water

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners does hereby provide notice of a public hearing to be held on Tuesday, December 30 at 5 p.m. in the Forsyth County Administration Building - Commissioners Meeting Room - regarding the potential acquisition of a parcel of property that will be purchased, in whole or part, with Forsyth County Park and Recreation/Greenspace bond funds. The proposed acquisition involves a 185.9-acre parcel located on the south side of Wallace Tatum Road just south of its intersection with Matt Highway. The present owner of the parcel is the Wallace Tatum Investment Holdings Corp. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Board of Commissioners may determine to complete the acquisition of this parcel.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners does hereby provide notice of a public hearing to be held on Tuesday, December 30 at 5 p.m. in the Forsyth County Administration Building - Commissioners Meeting Room - regarding the potential acquisition of a parcel of property that will be purchased, in whole or part, with Forsyth County Park and Recreation/Greenspace bond funds. The proposed acquisition involves a 63 +/- acre parcel located along the North and East sides of Caney Road just west of the intersection of Caney Road and Brookwood Road. The present owner of the parcel is the Estate of Arlene Harrison. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Board of Commissioners may determine to complete the acquisition of this parcel.

All interested parties are invited and encouraged to attend.

Labels: forsyth county, greenspace bond, property acquisition, public hearings

Forsyth County Citizens are invited to learn about a proposed new detention center at two informational sessions to be held in August.

In November, Forsyth County voters will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum regarding construction of a new detention center. Those interested in learning about the proposed detention center are invited to attend informational sessions on Tuesday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 26.

Both meetings begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in the Sheriff's Office Conference Room in the Government Building located at 101 E. Main Street in Cumming.

The current plan calls for the proposed detention center to be constructed on county-owned property on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Cumming, with approximately 226,000 square feet and the capacity to house 480 inmates. The plan may be subject to change as the engineering process continues.

Labels: cumming, detention center, forsyth county, public hearings

Due to a minor error in legal advertisements relative to the county’s 2008 tax digest and five-year history of levy, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold three additional public hearings regarding a proposed property tax increase. The Board of Commissioners is considering the adoption of a millage rate that will require an increase in the Maintenance and Operation property taxes, Fire property taxes and Bond property taxes.

The proposed county Maintenance and Operation rate remains at 3.834. The proposed Fire rate remains at 1.765. The proposed Bond rate is 1.196 mills, up from 0.446 mills in 2007. This represents a total millage increase of 0.75 mills.

The increase in the Bond property tax rate is due to the approval of the $100 million parks, recreation and green space bond measure approved by voters in February. The county intends to issue these bonds in September or October.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold three (3) public hearings to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions regarding the increase. All concerned citizens are invited to attend the public hearings regarding this tax increase. The hearings will be held at the Forsyth County Administration Building located at 110 E. Main Street, Suite 220, in Cumming on Tuesday, August 12 at 3 p.m. and Thursday, August 21 at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Three public hearings were held in July regarding this proposed property tax increase. Due to a minor error in the advertisements showing the five-year levy history, the state has asked the county to re-advertise the proposed property tax increase and hold three additional public hearings. The additional public hearings scheduled for August will not impact tax bills or the collection of taxes.

Labels: board of commissioners, forsyth county, proposed property tax increase, public hearings