WEST POINT — At the recommendation of the city staff, West Point is considering lowering the millage rate, from 9.303 to 9.257.

City Clerk Richard McCoy spoke to the council about the issue, saying the City of West Point 2018 net Property Tax Digest increased over the 2017 total of $160,478,272 to $168,359,096 providing a net increase of $65,571.

They recommended rolling the millage rate back from the 2017 rate of 9.303 to the state rollback rate of 9.257. This will be advertised and the item will be on the next business agenda for consideration. The resolution to set the 2018 millage rate to 9.257 will be on the Sept. 10 business agenda.

“It’s been going down every year,” City Manager Ed Moon said.

Along with discussing the millage rate, Moon reviewed the 2019 budget calendar, beginning with Tuesday, Aug. 2 when the budget request forms were distributed to city department directors.

According to Moon, the calendar will continue like this:

› From now until Tuesday, Sept. 4, Moon will meet individually with council members.

› On Sept. 4, department directors will discuss the budget requests.

› From Sept. 5 through Oct. 16, Moon will assemble budget requests, along with revenue estimates, and compile the budget.

› On Oct. 23, Moon will present the budget for consideration, run the budget advertisement for a public hearing to be held on Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. followed by a council work session.

› From Oct. 23 through Nov. 16, the council will review the budget, submit questions and meet with Moon.

› On Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m., the second public hearing for the proposed budget will be held.

› On Dec. 6, the final council review will be held during a work session.

› On Dec. 10, Moon will present the budget for adoption.

› On Dec. 11, the approved budget will be distributed to departments, the council, the media, be made available to the public, be posted in the city’s website and the Carl Vincent website.

› Lastly, on Jan. 1, 2019, the budget will become effective.

Moon noted that this is the same budget calendar from last year.

In other action, the council agreed to vote next week on a proposed street closure.

City Manager Moon told the assembled councilmembers that Avenue F in West Point no longer serves a public purpose and is not needed for private access.

He noted that the road is in poor condition and is not considered safe for public use.

“It’s not much of a street,” added Councilmember Sandra Thornton.

Moon noted that closing the street will allow the development of the adjacent property to make stormwater improvements that will impact other nearby properties.

Moon also told the council that the Georgia Department of Revenue does not have a copy of West Point’s resolution concerning Freeport’s ad valorem taxation but has confirmed that the city passed a Freeport exemption referendum on Nov. 7, 1978.

Moon added that the state has asked the city to borrow the language of the Troup County form and pass a resolution to file the state records.

“It’s just a bit of housecleaning,” Moon said.

The resolution will be on the next agenda for consideration.

The next work session of the West Point City Council will be Thursday, Sept. 6 at 5:30 p.m.