THOMASVILLE — The Thomasville City Council unanimously approved the fire tax millage rate for 2008 at a meeting Wednesday.

The Council approved the proposed 2.55 mils after discussion and an opportunity for comments from the public. No citizens were present at the meeting to speak on the rate.

“We want the public to know we worked hard and looked at everything to make sure we don’t take advantage of the community,” Mayor David Lewis said.

The city advertised $1.7 million will be levied from the 2.55 mils rate, a decrease from last year’s 3.50 mils. This is still an increase of $106,515 in taxes levied, due to new growth and improvements to real and personal property.

City Manager Steve Sykes said, historically, 85 percent of the tax levied is collected, which would equal approximately $1.5 million for this year.

“This does assume the Homestead Tax Relief Credit will be given, that the Georgia Legislature will come up with the money to do that,” Sykes said. “The city school board is also depending on that. If not, we’ll have to make some serious cuts in other areas or go back to taxpayers.”

The approved millage rate is slightly lower than the 2.555 rollback rate and should provide a tax decrease to some property owners, city staff said. The average city property owner should see a slight decrease on his or her tax bill unless the estimated value of the property increased more than approximately 38 percent.

The 2007 Tax Digest for Real and Personal Property was $460 million and, due to reassessments and new growth, increased in 2008 to $675 million.

This tax digest increase and Thomasville Fire Rescue’s budget — $3.2 million — staying in the black have been cited as reasons for the approved rollback in millage rate.

“I support any savings we can possibly pass on to the citizens as long as the quality of the services provided is not compromised,” Chief Bryan Croft said Thursday.

City of Thomasville began the fire tax after the Emergency Service Agency (ESA) disbanded.

It was first levied in 2004 with a determined rate of approximately 3.50 mils and has held at about this rate over the last four years.

The tax is levied by the city to help offset expenses for city fire services but does not completely fund the fire budget.

Council also unanimously agreed to ratify the Thomasville City Schools Board of Education’s approved millage rate of 17.1 mils.

It is part of the city charter that the public school system be allowed to levy its own tax rate — based on determined needs to operate the system — up to 20 mils. Then, the city is responsible for ratifying the rate and collects the taxes for the system.

Both approvals were given in emergency resolutions so the city could begin preparing its tax bills.

Sykes said he intends to approach Tax Commissioner Shirley Prevatt about the possibility of the county billing taxes for the city next year.

City tax bills are expected to go out in October.