City reducing millage rate, but taxes to go up

The Buford Board of Commissioners is tentatively planning to set the 2020 millage rate at 12.65 mills, less than the 2019 rate of 12.70, but still considered a tax increase by state officials. For property owners to have avoided a tax increase, the city would have needed to set the millage rate at the rollback rate of 11.57 mills.

The public is invited to three public hearings on the proposed millage rate. The first will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Buford City Arena, 2795 Sawnee Ave. Additional public hearings will be held at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at City Hall, 2300 Buford Highway.

The proposed tax increase for a home valued at $275,000 is about $118.80 and for a nonhomestead property valued at $625,000 the increase will be about $270.

Gwinnett County property taxes, available exemptions, information for new property owners and payment options can be found at gwinnetttaxcommissioner.publicaccessnow.com/ PropertyTax.aspx.

Frost Ward Lifetime Achievement Award.

“It has been a special honor and pleasure to be a part of the growth and progress of the city of Lawrenceville,” said Still. “The mayor and council have always supported me and the staff of the court. The city has a diligent and efficient court staff who strive daily to be of service to the citizens who appear in our court. The city has allowed me to work with the Municipal Judges Training Council of Georgia to share my training and experience with the other Municipal Court Judges in Georgia. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to serve the citizens of Lawrenceville for 40 years.”

The city will seek interested candidates for the position in September.