The Blue Ridge Council approved the millage rate, 2021 Budget Resolution and the Occupational Tax Certificate Ordinance Amendment during a special called meeting Monday, November 30.
The millage rate, which was first presented September 16, was approved and includes a rate of 5.378 mills on each $1,000 of taxable property.
The 2021 Budget Resolution did not bring any changes since the first presentation in September and was approved.
When Councilman Mike Panter asked if the “additional revenue that we brought in this year under the delinquent taxes and business license” would be included in next year’s budget, Finance Director Alicia Stewart said it would not.
It will instead be in the current year’s fund balance.
Councilwoman Rhonda Haight questioned why the auditors have never commented on the amount of delinquent taxes owed to the city.
Stewart explained that in the past auditors have commented on the issue in a management letter provided to herself and Mayor Donna Whitener, and when it was brought before the council, “no one wanted to do it (issue Fi. Fa.s), and the auditors were told that and said, ‘Okay.’”
Haight explained she’s never seen the management letter and has reviewed all of the audits and “was never told we were that far behind in taxes.”
In other action, the Occupational Tax Certificate Ordinance Amendment was approved, which includes a $250 flat fee for applicants, or $500 for those with 51 or more employees.
Each application will be accompanied with a $25 administrative fee.
When it came to approving the minutes from the October 20 special called meeting, Haight moved to approve the minutes with a note making the council and public aware that items four and five, under Public Comments, were not originally on the agenda, “which is a violation of the Open Records Act.”
The items she is referring to include a monologue prepared by Panter in which he listed off examples of the city’s 10 years of negligence and responded to Councilman Nathan Fitts’ and Angie Arp’s Letters to the Editor, which appeared in The News Observer.
Whitener asked how that was a violation when it was a council person speaking.
Haight explained by saying that since he was not on the agenda prior to the meeting, it is a violation because special called meetings must not deviate from the posted agenda.
“Actually, not only did it happen, but you (Whitener) allowed it to happen and asked him to do it, which is a violation of Georgia law,” Councilman Nathan Fitts said.
Whitener then asked for City Attorney James Balli’s opinion, and once council members ceased talking over one another, he agreed that it is a violation.
Panter then asked if it would be legal for him to add it to the December agenda so he can present it again to which Haight said, “You can certainly do that.”
Councilwoman Robbie Cornelius and Panter opposed the motion.
Cesar Martinez, on behalf of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Blue Ridge Business Association, informed that the Gingerbread Village at The Art Center is on display.
In regards to the 2021 Fire and Ice festival, Martinez asked if the council planned to lift their moratorium on permits prior to February.
“It’s kinda hard to think about that at this point with our numbers climbing,” Whitener said.
Martinez agreed.
Additionally, he said the DDA is working with an up-and-coming business to secure a Georgia Cities Foundation $200,000 loan, and the DDA has begun bidding for the way-finding signs.
Fannin County resident Mike Crane spoke to give the council advise for modifying the Special Events Ordinance.