City of Tifton Rolls Back Tax Rate

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Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025

Tifton, Georgia

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CITY ROLLS BACK PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR NO TAX HIKE COUNTY EXPECTED TO DO SAME; BOE PLANS A 19.54% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

During a special-called meeting Monday night, Tifton City Council rolled back its property tax millage rate to maintain current funding levels, resulting in no overall tax increases.

Council approved a resolution setting the city's millage rate at 6.236, a 3.036 millage rollback from last year’s rate of 9.272 mills.

"The city will not be receiving any additional tax revenue over last year’s net levy. The only new tax revenue this year is from new properties added to the (tax) digest," said Acting City Manager Larry Lawrence.

The rollback offsets inflationary growth from the recent Tift County property revaluation.

Tift County is also planning to roll back its millage rate to offset any increases in property taxes. The County Commission is expected to formally set its millage rate at its Jan. 13 meeting.

The Tift County Board of Education (BOE) is planning a 2.5-mill rollback, which will result in a property tax increase of 19.54%. The BOE said the rollback would set the school millage rate at 14 mills. School officials said that reducing the rate below 14 mills could jeopardize approximately $6 million in state funding for the school system.

Because the BOE plans a property tax hike, it was required to hold three public hearings on its plans. The final hearing on the increase is scheduled for 5 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 9, at the BOE offices, 506 W. 12th St. in Tifton.

After the millage rates for the city, county, and school system are set, the county tax commissioner's office hopes to mail out tax bills by Jan. 20. Property taxes will be due within 60 days of the mailing date.

Also, because Tift County Schools is opting out of the homestead exemption offered by House Bill 581 and approved by voters in November, an additional three public hearings must be held. Those hearings are set for noon this Friday, Jan. 10; noon Jan. 24; and 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at the BOE office.

HB 581, passed by the General Assembly last year, introduces a floating statewide homestead exemption that limits increases in taxable home values to the prior year’s inflation rate. Both the City of Tifton and the Tift County government are expected to opt in to the floating homestead exemption.

In a press release, the Tift BOE said it "feels opting out would be the best option to protect the financial stability of the schools and protect public education in the community."

APPARENT 'ROAD RAGE' RESULTS IN SHOOTING

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

An apparent "road rage" incident Sunday morning in Tifton resulted in one man being shot several times and another man arrested for assault.

Robert G. Wright, 24, of Tifton, is charged with aggravated assault and aggravated

battery, Tifton Police said.

At approximately 9:15 a.m. Sunday, police responded to reports of a shooting in the Walmart parking lot on U.S. Highway 82 West. Upon arrival, officers found Keith King, 42, of Tifton, with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower extremities.

King was transported to Tift Regional Medical Center for treatment. Police detained Wright at the scene as a suspect.

According to Tifton Police, a preliminary investigation found that the incident stemmed

from a near collision at the intersection of Highway 82 and McCormick Drive. Following the close call, King reportedly followed Wright to the Walmart parking lot, where an argument ensued between the two men.

King reportedly exited his vehicle and approached Wright's car, police said. Wright then allegedly drew a pistol and fired multiple shots, according to police.

The investigation is continuing, and police asked that anyone with information contact Sgt. Sydney Greene of the Tifton Police Department at 229-382-3132. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or by the TiftonPD Tip411 mobile app.

JIMMY CARTER:

COMING FULL CIRCLE

When the body of Jimmy Carter returned to a bitter cold, snow-covered Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, I was reminded of the day in January 1977 when Carter was inaugurated president. That was also a bitter cold, snow-covered day in the nation’s capital.

It was as if Jimmy Carter has come full circle, once again being honored in Washington, D.C., so many years later on a frosty January day.

Those long ago days were also the beginning of my career as a political journalist. I was a college senior and editor of my university’s student newspaper in Norfolk, Va. I had covered Carter’s visit to Norfolk on Labor Day 1976 to formally kick off his presidential campaign.

And I had obtained press credentials for me and a photographer for Carter’s inauguration. We arrived in Washington early that frigid morning and headed to the Lincoln Memorial for a sunrise service conducted by the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. of Atlanta, father of the slain civil rights leader.

We stood on the Lincoln Memorial steps near Charles Kuralt of CBS News who was broadcasting live. “Daddy King,” as he was called, delivered a short sermon, his voice momentarily faltering when he noted he was “standing on hallowed ground” where his son had delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech nearly 14 years earlier.

From there, we headed to the icy U.S. Capitol. In those days, anyone could just walk into the building. A buffet breakfast was set up in one of the committee rooms, and we just strolled in as if we had been invited, shaking the hand of the guy standing at the door.

Our press credentials allowed us to cover the inaugural ceremony from the Capitol steps. We staked out our position early, finding ourselves next to actor Dennis Weaver, who was a popular TV star at the time on the show “McCloud” and who had portrayed Chester on the old “Gunsmoke” series.

I only recall a few words from Carter’s inaugural address that day. He began by thanking predecessor Gerald Ford for helping heal the nation after Watergate, and he noted that his former high school teacher in Plains, Julia Coleman, once said that "we must adjust to changing times but still hold onto unchanging principles."

And I recall him saying that an ultimate goal was the “elimination of all nuclear weapons from this Earth.”

Later, when Carter, his wife Rosalynn, and daughter Amy unexpectedly exited their limousine and began walking down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House, a cheer erupted from the crowd, which pushed forward closer to the street.

I had a couple of other encounters with Carter during the years. In 1979, I was invited to the White House for a press briefing with the president, and I happened to be on a plane with him between Seattle and Atlanta in 1995.

In those days, Carter would walk through the plane before takeoff and shake everyone’s hand. By happenstance, I had just bought a magazine in the airport that had a long article about Carter and the buzz about him possibly receiving the Nobel Prize for peace.

As the former president approached me on the plane, I held up the article and said, “I’ve just been reading about you, Mr. President.”

As he saw his photo in the magazine, Carter asked, “What’s that?” He borrowed the magazine and took it with him to the front of the plane. After a while, a flight attendant brought it back to me; Carter had signed his photo in the magazine.

I had hoped to get an interview with him on the plane but was told he was napping.

These memories all came flooding back in recent days as the nation remembers Jimmy Carter upon his death at age 100. Times have changed a lot since those days nearly 50 years ago when a South Georgia farmer became president.

But what has not changed is the promise of America: That a person from the most humble of beginnings can become the leader of the free world, and that a single person can make a difference and have a lasting impact upon the world at large.

Jimmy Carter has left a legacy to which we all should aspire.

Frank Sayles Jr., a third-generation newspaperman, is editor and publisher of the Tifton Grapevine.

TIFT BOE MEMBERS SWORN IN FOR NEW TERMS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Three members of the Tift County Board of Education were sworn in for new terms on Tuesday.

Pictured from left are board members John Waddell (District 3), Chairman Jonathan Jones (District 7), and Marilyn Burks (District 1) taking their oaths of office, administered by Tift County Probate Judge Suzanne Johnson.

The board members were recently re-elected to another four-year term.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR ROTARY ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARD

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Do you know of a business that operates fairly and ethically in Tift County and is community-oriented? Nominate it for the Rotary Ethics in Business Award sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tifton.

Nominations must be received by Jan. 22. Rotarians will present the award during the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet Feb. 6.

Ethics and business are at the core of Rotary International, so it is fitting that the Rotary Club of Tifton established the Tifton Rotary Ethics in Business Award to recognize a local business that has demonstrated exceptional ethical behavior.

The Tifton Rotary Club initiated the annual award in 2013 as part of the club's 75th anniversary celebration.

“This annual award represents the basic values of Rotary and is a way for our Rotary Club to publicly recognize those businesses that adhere to high ethical standards as they serve our community,” said Frank Sayles Jr., who was president of the Tifton Rotary Club when the award was established.

“We have many fine businesses in Tift County that contribute to our area’s well-being and that help make Tifton the excellent community that it is today.”

Tifton Rotary Club board members selected the criteria for the award, which will go to a business physically located in Tifton or Tift County.

The nominated business must have consistently demonstrated high ethical standards of honesty and integrity in dealing with employees, customers, and contractors while enhancing the economic well-being of the company and providing local jobs, opportunity and profits.

In addition, the business must have participated in activities beneficial to the community beyond the provision of economic benefits of the business and must adhere to fair and truthful business practice reflected in the Rotary 4-Way Test: "Of the things we think, say, and do: Is it the truth?; Is it fair to all concerned?; Will it build goodwill and better friendship?; and Will it be beneficial to all concerned?"

Past awards have recognized such local businesses as Central Jewelry, Curtis Packing Co., McAlpin Entertainment, Kelley Manufacturing Co., Lang Printing Co., The Howard Center, Cole's Cakery, and Conger LP Gas.

Nomination applications are posted below and on the Tifton Rotary Club's Facebook page. They may be emailed to tiftonrotary@gmail.com or mailed to the Tifton Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1354, Tifton, Ga. 31793 (attn: Rotary Ethics in Business Award).

They must be received by Jan. 22.

KTB NAMES TIFT BEAUTY SPOTS OF MONTH

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Keep Tift Beautiful (KTB), a citizens advisory board, has named the residential and commercial Beauty Spots for January.

The home of Paul and Rita McGahee on Teresa Drive in Tifton, pictured above, is this month's residential Beauty Spot.

Bula's Antiques at 323 Main St., pictured below, is the commercial Beauty Spot of the month.

Keep Tift Beautiful promotes recycling, community gardening, litter abatement, and outdoor beautification.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Abraham Baldwin," or "Abe," was a tiny kitten found in a dorm parking lot on student move-in day at ABAC. After months in a foster home, Abraham Baldwin is ready to graduate to his forever home. Abe is very social and playful. Visit him and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

CITY OF TIFTON MOVES INTO

ITS OWN OFFICES

~ JAN. 8, 1909

The City of Tifton moved into its first offices of its own on Jan. 8, 1909. The new city offices in the Clyatt-Mathis Building housed City Council chambers, and offices for city clerk, treasurer, and waterworks superintendent. Previously, the city used the city court and superior court for office space.