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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-25-2004 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - October 25, 2004 1:35 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Bob Young, Mayor; Boyles, Chairman; Beard, Co-Chairman; Grantham and Williams, members; Lamont Belk, Attorney's Office; Fred Russell, Interim Administrator; E. W. Reece, Tax Assessor; Ron Crowden, Fleet Manager; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission. Also Present: Hons. Smith and Cheek, Commissioners. The Clerk: We have a request to delete Item 4 from the agenda. 4. Request for abatement of penalty and interest on 2003 tax bills. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: 6. Motion to approve holding a Public Hearing on FY 2005 Budget on November 3, 2004. 7. Discuss payment due on the Development Authority from Augusta Richmond County. Mr. Grantham: I so move we approve items 6 and 7 and delete item 4. Mr. Williams: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 1. Consider a request from Shil~h Comprehensive Community Center, Inc. for funding in the amount of $5,000 for their wellness and other programs. (Referred from October 11 Finance) At this time Mrs. Ruth Crawford appeared before the committee regarding the above item. Mr. Mays asked ifthe Administrator could explore the areas of Recreation and HED to determine if there are any funds available to help Shiloh. After a discussion, Ms. Beard: I so move that we refer this to the Commission with a report due back on possible funding for next Wednesday. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 1 2. Consider a request from the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce regarding an abatement of property taxes for 2004 in the amount of $6,102.02. I Mr. Chairman: We have done this in the past for a few organizations. Mr. Reece: We consider them to be taxable and they do not meet the guidelines for being an exempt entity. Sometimes in the past the Commission has abated the taxes for the Chamber of Commerce. After adiscussion, Mr. Williams: I make a motion that we deny this abatement . for the Chamber since Mr. Reece said they don't qualify for that. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. Grantham: I'd like to defer this to our next committee meeting and ask that the Chamber come back and give us some strong reasons why we should do this and what support they are giving to the government. I'll make that as a motion. . Ms. Beard: I second. Motion adopted with Mr. Williams voting No. 3. Approve the acquisition of One (1) Fuel/Lubrication Truck for the Public Works Department - Maintenance Division for $119~850.00 from Fleetcare Commercial Trucks of Augusta, Georgia. (lowest bid package for Bid 04- 117) I Mr. Williams: I so move. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 5. Consider a request for tax exempt status from Dr. Sam Davis of 30901 Development Corporation regarding the Linden Square L.P. property located at 1425 Linden Street. (Map 58-2, Parcel 28) At this time Ms. Francine Cayruth appeared before the committee regarding the above item. She noted that they had received tax credits for this project. Mr. Reece explained that this request will be appealed to the Board of Equalization and they have also appealed the decision of the Board of Assessors in denying them their exempt status to the Board of Equalization. They have not met yet. If the Board of Equalization upholds the staff and the Board of Assessors, their next round would be to go to Superior Court. He noted that the Commission can abate taxes but I 2 I I I cannot exempt property. They are an LLP but they don't have a corporate charter, corporate bylaws or federal exemption certificate. They don't meet the criteria for exempt status. Ms. Cayruth: Weare trying to get an abatement from the county taxes. Mr. Shepard: If they exempt it and reverse the Board, then that will determine the Issue. I would hold this for two weeks in this committee. Mr. Reece: If you're going to defer it, then defer it through the Board of Equalization's hearing and it will be later next month before we can come back. You would probably need to wait until the first December meeting. Ms. Cayruth: The tax bill is due in November and if we do not pay our taxes, we will be in danger of losing our tax credits. Ms. Beard: I would like to ask Planning and ,Zoning to look at changing the boundaries for the enterprise zone. Mr. Grantham: I move that we defer this until after the Board of Equalization has met. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission nwm 3 I I t FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - October 25, 2004 1:35 P. M. 1. Consider a request from Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center, Inc. for funding in the amount of $5,000 for their wellness and other programs. '(Referred from October 11 Finance), . 2. Consider a request from the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce regarding an abatement of property taxes for 2004 in the amount of$6,102.02. 3. Approve the acquisition of One (1) Fuel/Lubrication Truck for the Public Works Department - Maintenance Division for $119,850.00 from Fleetcare Commercial Trucks of Augusta, Georgia. (lowest bid package for Bid 04-117) 4. Request for abatement of penalty and interest on 2003 tax bills. 5. Consider a request for tax exempt status from Dr. Sam Davis of 30901 Development Corporation regarding the Linden Square L.P. property located at 1425 Linden Street. (Map 58-2, Parcel 28) 6. Motion to approve holding a Public Hearing on FY 2005 Budget on November 3, 2004. 7. Discuss payment due on the Development Authority from Augusta Richmond County.