City Commission - Regular Meeting

Monday, August 3, 2026Official site

The Rome City Commission held its first public hearing on the 2026 tax millage rate, which, despite an unchanged overall rate, is legally considered a tax increase. Commissioners and public speakers questioned proposed increases for city M&O and capital, while 77% of homestead parcels saw decreased assessed values.

About this meeting

Government Body
City Commission
Meeting Type
City Commission
Location
Rome, GA
Meeting Date
August 3, 2026

Published excerpts

Only published remarks appear here. The full transcript is not published.

4 sections (from 6 segments)

12:39•Mark Cochran

All right, do we have any questions? I have some. Just out of curiosity, what's driving the capital increase?

13:36 – 14:13•Mark Cochran

Okay. So we have two more of these meetings, correct? Okay. So I would just ask that if the city is asking for $564,000 more, which is a 20% increase over last year, that we get a little bit more detailed and things are more expensive because... I understand things are more expensive, but I seriously doubt they're 20% more expensive. I also understand that inside of there, it was a little bit hard to tell from the 2026 budget if the golf course payments are starting or not for the irrigation.

14:15 – 14:35•Mark Cochran

Yes, and so I would just like more detail on that in particular. In addition, I went back and read the finance minutes, and it appears as though part of the, request for the increase in the city M&O was health care? But that's under budget year to date in June?

15:52 – 16:43•Mark Cochran

I understand that and appreciate you all doing such a great job being efficient with that money. On the other hand, we're asking the citizens to give us more tax money as a hedge on something that hasn't happened yet. And so if we're under budget year to date as of June, I find it, difficult to ask citizens to pony up more money as a hedge against what's going to happen in the next six months if we are under budget as of June 30th. Sure. And so, and I can't remember, there was one more item in the minutes that was a reason for the additional M&O increase. I can't remember it off the top of my

These excerpts are remarks by officials whose identity a person confirmed, from a transcript generated automatically from the official public meeting video and presented unedited. Accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.