Crowd turns out for Springfield tax meeting

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Commission had a packed house on Monday night. But the item those people came to hear — the introduction of the city’s first ever property tax — was removed from the agenda when the meeting began.

City Attorney Kevin Obos explained that the city is going to wait until after July 1 to propose a millage rate.

Despite the delay, there was discussion of a plan to enact a millage rate, which city officials expect to be 3 to 3.5 mills.

Mayor Ralph Hammond addressed what was an at-times feisty crowd, so many of them that some people stood along the back wall of the meeting room.

“This is fine tuning,” he said. “Nothing is set in concrete. We’re not raping people. We’re not pilfering people. We want to pave roads and clear dilapidated buildings.”

Even after the commission explained that the budget and tax figures were still proposals, resident Dave Bryant was apprehensive.

“Most people can’t afford taxes like that,” Bryant said.

When commissioners explained that, due to tax exemptions, only 40 percent of Springfield residents will handle the tax burden, resident Marion Daniels expressed his displeasure.

“Do you feel that’s really fair?” Daniels said. “Don’t you feel there’s a better way where we all pay a portion?”

“Not with ad valorem you can’t,” Obos said.

The city has until Sept. 30 to set a final tax rate. A 3 to 3.5 millage rate being discussed would not be enough to pay for a proposed budget of $810,905. One mill equates to $1 of tax for every $1,000 of value.

City Clerk Lee Penton said the proposed budget had already been cut by $500,000.

“Ultimately that’s up to the commissioners,” Penton said. “We’re good at squeezing. We’ve been doing without for over five years, since I’ve been clerk.”

Commissioners were not clear what else could be cut.

“I’ve looked at it and looked at it,” Commissioner Phillip Dykes said. “People are already cut to the bone.”

Commissioner Jimmy Talley has been the most consistent advocate of a pay raise for employees. He proposed a 6 percent pay increase at a budget workshop last week.

“We’ve got to sit down with the department heads at the next budget meeting,” Talley said.

Hammond went through several items the city could not cut, including communications radios and road paving. Hammond stood by the 3 percent increase for employees.

“If we don’t do a pay raise we’ll start losing employees,” Hammond said. “We have seven empty spots.”

Hammond said city officials will meet with grant writer Karen Stripling this week. Hammond, Dykes and Talley were all hopeful to get grants but said grants are not certain.

“I don’t even know what she’s applying for,” Hammond said.

Because of the state Truth in Millage law, the rate the city will initially approve — which city officials said last week could be 5 mills — later will be reduced, the mayor said.

Springfield will have a budget meeting following their regular workshop at noon on June 16.

On July 1, the Bay County property appraiser will have final tax values for the city. The commission likely will make a tax rate decision at its July 7 meeting, officials said. Hammond said they will roll back the initial millage after budget cuts.