Commission Adopts FY 2022 Budget But Delays Decision on Tax Rate

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted a $58.5 million Fiscal Year 2022 budget that anticipates a reduction in the county’s property tax rate.

The size of the reduction has not yet been specified, however, and it isn’t likely to be enough to offset inflationary growth in the tax digest.

The Board has scheduled three hearings on the new millage rate for July and August leading up to adoption of the rate on Aug. 3.

The Oconee County Board of Education, at its meeting early last month, adopted a Fiscal Year 2022 budget that is based on a continuation of its current millage rate of 16.5.

Wilhelm Waters appeared before the Commission on Tuesday night to complain about the taxes he pays for Oconee County Schools, though the tax rate for Oconee County Schools is entirely under the control of the Board of Education, not the Board of Commissioners.

The millage rate for the unincorporated part of Oconee County that the Board of Commissioners is considering reducing is 6.686 for the current fiscal year.

The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday also turned down a request by a property owner to use refurbished shipping containers for a food and retail court on Hog Mountain Road and to reduce the buffer between that property and the residential property behind it.

For more on this story, with video is the Commission meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.