Jones County Commissioners began preparations for setting the county’s tax rate and adopted an operating resolution at their second Tuesday meeting.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the Aug. 18 meeting to order and also led the opening prayer and pledge.
The meeting was preceded by a work session to interview a candidate for Jones County’s Public Facilities Authority Board. The board was created May 3, 2021, when HB 253, sponsored by State Rep. Susan Holmes, was signed by Gov. Brian Kemp. That board had five members appointed by the commissioners and met twice. Members of that board included Sunset Harris, James Huckeba, Tracy McSwain, Regan Skinner and TJ Heath.
The PFA is an entity that can help finance capital projects for the government through intergovernmental contracts that may include the issuance of bonds. The board owns no assets, and members have no financial liability.
The 2021 board assisted with a bond issuance agreement that saved the county close to half of a million dollars.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens made the motion to appoint Raymond Foster to the Jones County PFA Board for a fouryear term. Foster was the candidate interviewed for the position at the work session before the commissioners meeting.
New business
County Administrator Jason Rizner presented an operating resolution to the commissioners, which will carry over the existing budget past Sept. 1, the beginning of the county’s new fiscal year. The operating resolution occurs almost every year to allow additional time for the tax digest to be accepted and the budget for the new fiscal year adopted.
Before voting on the resolution, board members discussed that the Board of Tax Assessors were meeting Aug. 21 to approve the 2026 digest values, which is needed before advertisement of the five-year history takes place.
Kitchens made the motion to adopt the resolution, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Rizner next presented a timeline for the required advertising of the FY27 budget and adoption of the millage rate. The administrator proposed advertising the millage and rollback rate from the previous year, understanding it is a tentative rate and can be lowered without additional advertising.
Any increase in the tax rate would require the advertising process to go back to the beginning.
Kitchens made the motion to adopt the tentative rate, and it was approved unanimously.
The third item was brought by Commissioner John Wood. He asked about the current CHIP (Community Home Investment Program) Grant. Rizner said the grant was 50 percent completed.
The administrator added that CHIP applications would close in January. The current grants are for $300,000.
“There is definitely a great need, but with all the code issues that have to be addressed in the houses, our experience is we may be able to do four to six homes,” he said.
Rizner said one of the obstacles is the home must have a clear title to be eligible for the program.
“It’s a lengthy process and not for emergency repairs,” he said. “But we need to get rolling.”
Another issue is finding contractors certified to do the work. Kitchens suggested asking the Middle Georgia Regional Commission to have a vendor fair for construction companies approved to do the work.
Commissioner Daylon Martin said he would like the work done by local companies.
Old business
Rizner presented the Jones County/Gray Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan with FEMA updates. He said the plan had been previously approved by the board subject to FEMA approval.
The plan that is required to be updated every five years, was a year-long effort led by the Middle Georgia Regional Commission. The administrator said FEMA had one tweak that necessitated the additional approval.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn made the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:34 p.m. to enter closed session to discuss personnel. It was reconvened at 6:48 p.m. to be adjourned again with no action taken.
