Sunday, July 21, 2024–4:30 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Rome City Commission is expected to adopt the millage rate following a third and final public hearing on Monday.
Although the commission is considering a reduction in the tax rate, three public hearings are still required because the reduction will not be lower than the rollback rate, so it is considered a tax increase according to state law.
“The finance committee has made the recommendation this year that we have a reduction of the city M&O [maintenance and operations] from 7.8 down to 7.75,” said Rome City Manager Sammy Rich.
For city capital, the rate is proposed at 1.75 from 1.8.
The rate for Rome City Schools would go from 16.85 to 16.75.
On a $150,000 home with no change in assessment or no exemptions, that is roughly a $12 savings.
Also Monday, the city commission will conduct a public hearing for a request to rezone property at 3 Westlyn Drive from Suburban Residential to Community Commercial to match the established use, and a rezoning request for the construction of a duplex at 209 Redmond Road.
Commissioners will also consider a Special Use Permit for a duplex at 312 East 15th Street and an annexation request for 122 Morgan Drive.
Monday’s Rome City Commission meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Rome City Hall.
The caucus begins at 5 p.m.
Two recommendations from the ACC set for First Reading
A recommendation from the Rome Alcohol Control Commission regarding alcohol sales permits and underage sales is set for First Reading during Monday’s Rome City Commission meeting.
The ACC wants the code to be amended to specify that a holder of an alcohol sales permit who is convicted or pleads guilty to the offense of selling or furnishing alcohol to a person under 21, would have their alcohol sales permit revoked.
This would apply to any one offense within a five year period.
Currently, the city code states that these permits will be revoked only if there are two offenses within a one-year period.
A small bar ordinance is also slated for First Reading Monday.
The ordinance provides a way for an establishment to sell distilled spirits without the requirement for food service or meeting Rome’s 50/50 food-to-drink ratio.
The establishment must have 1,800 square feet of interior or exterior customer space, close by 11 p.m. and must be in the Central Business Commercial or Urban Mixed Use zoning districts.
In January 2023 and again in March 2023, the City Commission denied the small bar ordinance via a split vote.
Once again, these are just First Readings, a vote will not come until the commission’s first meeting in August.