Gwinnett County commissioners will study a proposal to increase the current millage rate of 10.97 by 21 percent, the county announced at a news briefing Friday afternoon.

The county will hold three public hearings on the proposal, which would increase the taxes on a $200,000 house by $13.36 per month. Two of the hearings will be conducted in November, and the last one is set for Dec. 1.

The move will likely meet heavy resistance.

Commissioner Kevin Kenerly, who attended the news briefing along with County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister, called for a study earlier this month to find out how much it would cost to restore some of the personnel and funding that have been hit by cuts that the commission ordered in July.

Earlier this year, the county had sought to increase the county’s millage rate by 28 percent to close a budget shortfall, but it was shot down after hundreds turned out in opposition at public hearings and rallies.

Instead, the commissioners passed a measure to reconcile the shortfall by eliminating 250 positions -- including 53 police officers -- and delaying more than $13 million in capital expenditures, such as parks, fire stations and other buildings. The measure also laid the groundwork for $225 million in cuts over the next five years.

Since then, a parade of residents, most notably library patrons and residents seeking sustained police services, have complained to the county about the cuts. While some have suggested the cuts went too deep, others have argued they have not been equitable.

In order to sustain public safety and the courts, Kenerly and Commissioner Bert Nasuti had both expressed an interest in looking at increasing the property tax rate.

When talk of increasing the rate first arose earlier this month, two groups – Gwinnett Citizens for Responsible Government and Gwinnett Freedomworks -- quickly moved to block any property tax increases and scheduled a forum on the subject for next Thursday at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville.

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