Thursday, January 9th, 2025
6:30 P.M. Nicholson Community Center
Call to Order – 6:47 p.m.
Attending: Mayor Steve Nichols, Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins, Council Members Thomas Gary, Josh Burkhalter, City Clerk Irma Robles and City Attorney Jody Campbell. Not present: Council member Mike Barfield, Public Works Director Doyle Samples, and Mainstreet News (emailed draft minutes on 1/10/2025). For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet.
PUBLIC HEARING:
At 6:47pm, Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to go into Public Hearing, councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded. All were in favor. Motion was approved.
HB 581 – Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exception. Mayor Nichols explained City Council and the Public about the purpose of this meeting to understand more this House Bill 581. He explained how this House Bill was kick out and then put it back in until it finally passed with a 63% of the vote for the state of Georgia, which is very high and it kind of tells what people wants to see happens with this bill. Locally, the city of Nicholson is having these public hearings so the city can opt out or stayed in by following the legal procedures and do what this community desires by March 1st, 2025. Mayor Nichols explained that this bill doesn’t really affect Nicholson right now since the city’s mileage rate is 0.00% as written on the city charter, which also means Nicholson does not levy a city tax currently. He explained that the negative side of this is, if the city decides to opt in or opt out, it locks the city in, so ten years from now, whoever sits in the city council has to make a decision on how to get additional revenues to operate the city. Mayor Steve told city council, he has attended different meetings in the last few weeks about this House Bill and he also provided copies of the GMA and ACCG FAQs document so the city council and public can familiarize with this bill and prepare questions for the next public hearings. Mayor Nichols opened the room for discussions and allow three minutes to each person from the public to ask questions or make comments to city council. Bob Russell from 7707 Brockton Rd, mentioned that he doesn’t have any questions yet, but he will read the document provided and come to the next public hearing. Mayor Nichols expressed that the city can opt out, but he is unsure if the legislators somehow would come back and make municipalities to stayed in. Mayor Nichols also gave a brief explanation of what sales tax FLOST means and mentioned that if one of the Jackson County cities decides to opt out, no one in the county would qualify for FLOST. He reminded everyone that TSPLOST didn’t pass in the last election on November 2024. Roger Cosby from 184 Summit Heights Dr made comments about limitations on how taxes can be raised. He also mentioned on how property values and mileages rates go hand to hand. Roger also mentioned that this bill passed with 75% approval from Jackson County. Carolyn Knight from 501 Pace Dr comment about how Gwinnett County is raising its taxes lately. Mr. Cosby added that taxes are increasing and the taxpayers are not getting anything extra back, no additional services, instead inflation. Mayor Nichols explained that Schools Boards also have the decision of opting out or stayed in, since they are separate from the county or city tax and from what has been discussed at the last meeting, it looks like the majority would opt out. Lynn Russell from 7707 Brockton Rd expressed her concern about his since most of her taxes go to schools and education. Mayor Nichols told city council and Public about the dates for the following public hearings and ask the public to invite others from the community to attend these. City Attorney Jody Campbell has prepared a power point presentation about this House Bill and will play it at the next Public Hearing due to late arrival to this meeting. There were no further discussions.
ADJOURNMENT
At 7:22pm, Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to come out from the Public Hearing; Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins seconded, and all were in favor. The Public Hearing was adjourned.
Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to adjourn the January 9th, 2025 Special Called Meeting Public Hearing, council member Josh Burkhalter seconded this motion. All were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:23pm.
ADJOURNED.
Announcements:
*Next Daisy Festival Planning Meeting – January 16th, 2025 at 6:30pm
*Next Work Session & Public Hearing – January 23rd , 2025 at 6:30pm
*Next Council Meeting & Public Hearing – February 3rd, 2025 at 6:30pm
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Approved by City Clerk Irma Robles