Guyton City Council votes to increase millage rate for first time in 17 years

GUYTON, Ga. (WTOC) - The Guyton City Council voted 4 to 1 on Wednesday night to raise the city’s millage rate from 2.125 mils to 3.153 mils, marking the first rate increase in nearly two decades.

The decision followed the city’s third and final public hearing on the proposed increase. According to the Guyton City Manager, the millage rate had stayed the same or rolled back for the past 17 years.

“The problem when you roll back or hold that millage rate steady for so long and you don’t account for inflation, and inflation sticks around long enough...at some point, revenues don’t keep up with expenses, and that has gotten us to where we are,” the city manager said.

Despite the increase, the city manager noted that the new 3.153 mils rate remains one of the lowest in the county.