Milton Resident Angry About "Tax"

Well, only a couple of weeks after the first full meeting of the City Council, I got a letter in the mail revealing that we've been clipped for a 4% tax increase in our electric bills due to a "franchise fee" the City imposed on Sawnee EMC. Of course this "fee" is subsequently passed along to residents who receive power from Sawnee.

After we heard from the Mayoral and Commission candidates at Milton High that no increase of taxes would be needed, here comes a "tax" (call it what you will) which will cost, for example, an EMC member homeowner who uses an average of $200/mo. in power an increase of $96.00/year. (if you average more than that your can do the math to determine how much your rates have increased due to this City imposed "fee.")

What do we get for this? Is this "fee" going to improve the City by putting all power lines underground or is this just a hidden tax to benefit the expansion of the Milton Mayor and City Council's bureaucracy? What is next? What is the benefit to Milton residents? We're paying "through the nose" for County property taxes now. Why should we have to endure an additional "franchise fee" from our electric power supplier which we never had to pay before simply due to the fact that we now live in the City of Milton and the City imposed it?

If more monies are needed by the new City, what about impact fees assessed on "developers" of new properties rather than hitting current residents for more taexs - or whatever you want to call franchise fees.

Make no mistake, I supported and voted for the creation of the City of Milton because Fulton County government was providing minimal (or no) benefit for taxes paid. With this new "franchise fee" it appears that we "meet the New Boss, same as the Old Boss."

Maybe there is a purpose in this? It would be helpful to know. If other homeowners in the City receive electric power from other entities, I trust they have the 4% increase as well. If not, why not? Again, what is the benefit to City residents? I hope there is some good to come of this increase in the amount of money that I have to pay because the City government decided to impose this fee.

If there is no tangible benefit and this trend continues of imposing fees/taxes, I submit that we will seek new "management" at the next election.

George M. Elkins

Bill Increase; the Mayor Responds

Dear Mr. Elkins,

I certainly appreciate your frustration with the franchise fee being shown on your Sawnee bill of a 4% added charge. I understand that whether it is called a "franchise fee," "tax," or whatever, it is still dollars out of our pockets as residents.

These fees are charged by 528 cities in the state of Georgia, and the revenue is used for repair and upkeep of our ROW's, that all of our utility companies use and damage. Instead of being a tax, it is an assessment based on true use of our infrastructure, which is paid equally by every user, as it is included in every utility bill based on service used. This is different than if it was added into our property taxes, in which someone living in a $500,000 home would pay 5x the amount that someone living in a $100,000 home does.

These fees have always been included in the cost of utilities, but have not always been shown, or passed on directly. I know Sawnee has added a separate line item, by their choice, but I don't believe Georgia Power does. The gas company does not break their charge out, or shows it in their billing. Comcast and Bellsouth show it on their bill, but have always shown this for Fulton County.

These fees have always been included in our budget, long before any of us were elected into office, and specified in the City's Charter. Our city manager and staff's recommendation on this was "Approve all ordinances granting use of public ROW and providing compensation in the best interest of the city of Milton."

Anyway, enough of this subject, as I am not trying to justify these fees, but just give you the information so that you realize they are not something the new Mayor and Council dreamed up to add monies to our budget.

Speaking of budget. When I was elected to office I was presented a budget that was not balanced, from previous projections. I am proud to say that with a collective team effort from our city staff, CH2MHill, myself and our city council, we reduced over $1,000,000 from our costs, and negotiated another $750,000 savings on our first year contracts. This is what it took to get a balanced budget. And, by the way, Mayor and Council elected to cut benefits and reimbursable expenses, in order to help out as well.

You ask "what benefit is there to our city residents?" Based upon the option, if we had it, of not having these fees included in our revenue, then I would say it would be the safety of our roads and shoulders, for our families as they travel in our city.

When you say that you submit that "we seek new management at the next election," please keep in mind that these fees in no way benefit myself, council, or city staff, other than to allow us to do what is in the best interest for our residents. We all have to pay the costs personally as you do.

I am confident that every decision we have made so far, and will make in the future, are the same as any other reasonable, educated citizen of Milton would make if they were sitting in our shoes.

Thank you for your comments and concerns, and I want to let all of our citizens know that I appreciate your feedback, whether positive, negative, or constructive. We truly want to have Milton be the best place to live and raise our families.

Sincerely,

Joe Lockwood
Mayor, City of Milton