Cherokee Commission Set To Approve Reduced Budget

The fiscal year 2013 budget for the Cherokee County government will be up for adoption today by the county commission.

The commissioners will meet today at 3 p.m. for its work session and will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. at the county administration building in Canton.

The commission will consider adopting the budget, set at $189.5 million. That's slightly lower than the county's annualized 2012 budget of $189.9 million.

Chief Financial Officer Janelle Funk said when the county factors in its reimbursements from the Georgia Department of Transportation and Northside Hospital for the construction of the Commerce Boulevard extension, its net total spending will come in at $182.9 million, which she said is almost $7 million less when compared to the previous year's budget.

The county's proposed budget is based upon a millage rate of 9.99. Broken down, that's 5.825 for the general fund, 3.394 for the fire fund and .780 for the parks bond. The rate was raised to the current level in July, which is deemed revenue neutral for the county. 

A home valued at about $165,000 with the standard $5,000 exemption would pay about $590 in county property taxes. Most residents saw no property tax increase as most properties either declined in value or saw its value remain the same.

See the attached .PDF see what else is on tonight's agenda.