Canton will hold a public hearing Thursday to discuss the city’s proposed budget for 2023, which is expected to be nearly $80 million.

The $79.8 million budget is an $8.45 million decrease from the current year’s budget of $88.3 million, according to city documents. The general fund, however, is proposed to increase by a little over $1.6 million to $21,999,240 in 2023.

Most of the decrease in the budget comes from a transfer of American Rescue Plan Act funds from the last budget year into the general fund, based on federal rules for revenue loss calculation, as well as reductions in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and sanitation funds, according to city documents.

Of the general fund, the city’s largest budget item is the police department, with a proposed $6.1 million budget — over $5 million in salaries and benefits, and another $1 million on services and supplies.

The proposed budget includes pay raises for police through a new step pay program. The budget also proposes raises for civilian employees, moving starting rates to $20 an hour, adding a $5,000 base level increase for all non-contract employees and giving a 5% cost of living raise.

In addition to the budget public hearing, the Canton City Council is scheduled to hold its final public hearing on the city’s proposed millage rate of 5.4 mills. The council is also expected to vote on this proposal after the hearing.

The 5.4 maintenance and operations millage rate, which is the same the city has had since 2017, would result in a tax increase for those with higher assessments due to rising property values. This rate is 20.43% higher than the rollback rate of 4.484 mills, which would keep city property tax revenues the same.

In Canton, 2,990 residential parcels qualify for the senior tax exemption. More than 78% of senior-owned properties receive the full $112,000 Canton senior exemption, saving senior taxpayers $1.7 million, Canton Finance Director Melissa Forrester said July 7.

To qualify for the senior exemption, a resident must be 62 or older, occupy the home that they own, and apply for the exemption with the Cherokee County Tax Commission.

Under the 5.4 millage rate, the proposed city tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $375,000 would be about $137.40.

The proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $225,000 would be about $82.44.

Also at the meeting, council members will consider how to distribute the city’s share of a potential 2024 SPLOST.

If voters pass an extension of the penny sales tax in November, collections would start in July 2024. Canton’s projected share of SPLOST funds over the six-year period is over $49 million. The cities and county must reach an intergovernmental agreement to declare the use of the proceeds.

According to city documents, Canton staff are proposing the following allocations:

- $3 million for public safety technology, vehicles, equipment and facilities

- $22 million for parks, recreation and cultural amenities

- $7 million for general government buildings and equipment

- and any debt service or capitol leases related to SPLOST projects

The city council will also discuss and is expected to vote on the following items:

- A conditional use permit and rezoning application from Mondo Land Planning and Design for 24 duplex units at 850 Marietta Road, plus two existing houses that would be renovated. The request was tabled in June to allow the city council and city staff more time to discuss the application. Mondo seeks to rezone the properties from office-residential transitional to residential attached, according to city documents. The development would have a density of 8.04 units per acre spread across a little over 5.3 acres. The owner of the properties at 850 and 830 Marietta Road, Latimer Apartments, LLC, would combine the 24 homes with an existing duplex development to the north, Coppermine Manor, city documents show. The developer would be required to put up a six-foot privacy fence to the southern property line.

- A bid to award construction for the city’s Harmon Park improvement project. This project includes construction of a 10- to 11-inch-wide multi-use concrete trail, sidewalk improvements, additional parking, full size basketball court, 60x90 foot mini-pitch soccer field, stadium style sitting, replacing fencing on existing baseball field, construction of a prefabricated picnic pavilion, and additional items, according to city documents.

The next Canton City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at city hall, 110 Academy St. in Canton. The meeting will also be available online at canton.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

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