Clayton Commission weighs tax hike

Clayton County commissioners are considering raising property taxes above the rate that recently prompted a revolt in Gwinnett.

Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell said the commission will have to raise property taxes by a 2.9 millage rate boost — putting the county’s rate at 31.9 for the county and school board portions — and one of the highest rates in the region — if it is going to avoid furloughing county workers, including police and firefighters. Last week, the commission said it didn’t support furloughs when it was facing a roomful of angry county employees and their supporters.

“I think the public will go along with it,” Bell said. “Local government can’t cut its way out of this budget crisis and give the public the services they desire.”

But the tax hike would mean that Clayton, currently about even with low-tax Cobb County, would edge out Gwinnett for the second highest tax rate in the metro area. Only high-tax Atlanta , which passed a three mill hike to end furloughs Monday will surpass it.

The Atlanta hike means its residents will pay a 42-mill rate, which combines the city, county and school board share of the property taxes.

Commissioners in Gwinnett County, which has a 31.8 total millage rate, balked at raising its taxes by additional three mills earlier this month.

Clayton Commissioner Wole Ralph said he would support some sort of tax hike but he stopped short of saying he would support a 2.9 millage increase. He said he thought the residents would go a long with a hike as long as commissioners could show they getting better services — especially in public safety. He noted the public approved a Special Local Option Sales Tax for public safety last year.

“I’m not sure how much the increase is going to be,” he said. “The issue will be whether we privatize some of the services out, fully fund the departments in regards to staffing or do some furloughs that aren’t related to public safety.”