As expected, the Fayette County Board of Commissioners approved a millage rollback at its Aug. 27 meeting.
County administrator Steve Rapson reiterated that this is the only governmental entity in Fayette County not doing a tax increase, with the others (the cities and school board) increasing an average of 9 percent.
“When people get their tax bills they will start complaining, and they can’t complain to us,” said Rapson.
The county’s general fund millage was reduced from 5.602 to 5.171, a drop of 7.69 percent. Millage rates for fire services (3.070), EMS services (0.456) and E-911 services (0.210) were unchanged.
County chief financial officer Mary Parrott said that 2015 has seen a positive reassessment of 9.1 percent or $366 million. That is an increase from the 2.2 percent shown in 2014 after six years of negative reassessments.
The total tax digest increased $363 million to $4.7 billion, close to the 2009 high of just over $5 billion. There was $60 million in real property growth and $24 million in personal property growth, while countywide exemptions increased 3 percent or $8.6 million.
The motion to approve the new millage rates passed 4-0.
