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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-08-2004 Meeting I I I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - November 8, 2004 2:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Bob Young, Mayor; Boyles, Chairman; Beard, Co-Chairman; Grantham and Williams, members; Steve Shepard, Attorney; Fred Russell, Interim Administrator; E. W. Reece, Tax Assessor; Paul DeCamp, Planning Commission; David Persaud, Finance Director; Ron Crowden, Fleet Manager; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission. The Clerk: We have a request for some addendum items. ADDENDUM AGENDA: ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: 1. Motion to approve a request from the Solicitor's Office for the transfer of$5,000 from the Contingency Fund to the General Fund regarding the purchase of printers and related equipment with 1999 grant monies from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Consider a request from Mr. John Zimjewski regarding the penalty on his personal property tax for a boat. Consider a request from Christ Haven Baptist Church regarding an exemption from 2004 property taxes. Consider a request from T & Z Associates regarding an adjustment of taxes to reflect the sale of property to the Georgia Department of Transportation. 2. 3. 4. Ms. Beard: Mr. Zimjewski is out of town. Mr. Williams: I move that we add Items 1,3 and 4 to the agenda. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Mr. Shepard: On Item 1 we've developed some additional information and would like for the Chamber to consider a matter with their board and postpone this for two weeks. 1. 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. (Referred from October 25 Finance) Mr. Grantham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. 1 Motion adopted unanimously. 9. Consider a request for tax exempt status from Dr. Sam Davis of 30901 Development Corporation regarding the Linden Square L.P. property at 1425 Linden Street. (Map 58-2, Parcel 28) Mr. Shepard: The exemptions are granted by the Board of Assessors and are appealed to the Board of Equalization. I don't think this body can consider an exemption and ifthere is a problem with what the Board of Equalization does, they would appeal to Superior Court. Mr. Reece: That should read "tax abatement" and the Board has upheld the decision of the Board of Assessors to deny the exemption. This is a senior retirement type apartment complex and we have several in the Augusta area. I think you would be setting a bad precedent if you starting doing this and I recommend that you not abate it. Mr. Williams: I'm going to make a motion that we deny this abatement. Mr. Grantham: Second. Mr. Mayor: Can you retroactively expand the boundary of the enterprise zone to include this building? Mr. DeCamp: I don't know the answer to that. Mr. Reece: I don't think you can do that when the building already exists. Mr. Shepard: You don't have a retroactive law so I would think you have no relief there. Ms. Beard: I make a substitute motion that we postpone it and have someone in our Finance Department go in and review things and make a recommendation. Mr. Williams: Second. Ms. Cayruth: The taxes are due on the 15th. Mr. Mayor: How much is your tax bill? Ms. Cayruth: $32,000. Mr. Mayor: How much can you pay? Ms. Cayruth: $25,000. '1 I I I Mr. Mayor: I believe the Administrator can approve expenditures up to $10,000. I think if you could defer it to him and to me perhaps we could work something out to assist them in getting their taxes paid on time. Mr. Russell: I think you may be starting a precedent that I would not recommend. I don't we should start reviewing the books of a private agency and would prefer that we attempt to help them in some other manner. Mr. Grantham: I would ask the maker of the substitute motion to withdraw her motion and let's make a motion to have the Mayor and the Administrator work with these people to get their taxes paid on Monday and see what kind of problem we can help them work out for future years. Ms. Beard: I'll withdraw my motion. Mr. Williams: I'll withdraw my second but I would ask that HED be included with the Mayor and the Administrator. Mr. Grantham: That's fine and I will make the motion that we ask the Mayor, the Administrator and HEDD to look at the solving of this problem and if a loan is needed or some type of advance of money to pay the balance of the tax bill due on the 15th to get that arranged for them and we look into resolving the problem for the future. Ms. Beard: Second. Motiton adopted unanimously. 2. Consider a request from Paine College for city sponsorship through the purchase of tickets for the Fifth Annual Masked Ball on February 11,2005. Mr. Chairman: Would that come from 2004 money? The Clerk: Yes. Mr. 'Williams: So move. Ms. Beard: Second. Mr. Grantham: How much are the tickets and where does the money come from? The Clerk: The tickets were $75 and it comes from the Promotional Account. Motion carries with Mr. Grantham not voting. 7. Motion to approve refunds on five accounts. 3 Ms. Beard: I so move. Mr. Grantham: I second. Motion adopted with Mr. Williams not voting. Addendum Item 3. Consider a request from Christ Haven Baptist Church regarding an exemption from 2004 property taxes. Mr. Reece: I talked to them and explained that they will qualify for an exemption for 2005 but they do not qualify for 2004. Mr. Grantham: I'm going to make a motion that we deny it. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Addendum Item 4. Consider a request from T & Z Associates regarding an adjustment of taxes to reflect the sale of property to the Georgia Department of Transportation. Mr. Reece: The DOT condemned a portion of this property back in February. I prorated what the taxes would have been for the property and there is an adjustment to $343.88. Ms. Beard: I move that we do that. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 3. Review third quarter Sept. 30, 2004 fiscal year operating financial statements and accept as information. Mr. Persaud noted that the savings that have been realized will keep the budget in balance for the remainder of the year. Mr. Grantham: A motion to approve as received. Mr. Chairman: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 4 I I I 4. Approve the acquisition of Two (2) 8500 GVW Pickup Trucks for the Recreation Department for $20,018.65 each from Bobby Jones Ford of Augusta, Georgia (lowest bid package for Bid 04-116). After a discussion, Mr. Williams: I so move. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 5. Approve the acquisition of 16 light trucks, as described in the first attachment, to replace older model trucks of 5 divisions of Public Works. Mr. Williams: I'm going to make a motion that we approve this. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 6. Approve the acquisition of One (1) 4 x 4 Sports Utility Vehicle for Tax ASsl~ssor's Office for $22,809.25 from Bobby Jones Ford of Augusta, Georgia (lowest bid package for Bid 04-131). Mr. Grantham: So move. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 11. Approve declaring as surplus and available for auction to be held on December 11, 2004 the items identified on the attached sheets. Ms. Beard: I move that we approve this. Mr. Grantham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 12. Approve the acquisition of Three (3) Pumper Fire Trucks for the Augusta Fire Department from Harless Fire Equipment Company of Bessemer, Alabama for the amount of $329,000.00 each (lowest bid offer on Bid 02-048). Mr.Williams: So move. Ms. Beard: Second. 5 Motion adopted unanimously. 8. Motion to adopt the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Resolution. Mr. Grantham: So move. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. 10. Consider a request from Mrs. Lucile Ketch for a refund of her garbage collection fees. Mr. Johnson: I've spoken with her several times and the property in question is her rental property. Under our resolution it states that if the utilities are on, then she is billed $195.00 for solid waste collection. A cart was delivered and the power has been on so based on those findings, we're required to bill her for the service. We sent a letter to Georgia Power asking them to tell us when the power has been on and off at that location and we have yet to hear from them. Mr. Chairman: I was wondering if this was in the old city or the county. Mr. Grantham: I think we need to wait until we hear from Georgia Power and determine where this is located so I'm going to ask that we defer this until our next meeting and come back with the proper answers so we'll know how to handle it. I'll make that as a motion. Mr. Chairman: Maybe we can also get a copy of her tax bill. Ms. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Addendum Item 1. Motion to approve a request from the Solicitor's Office for the transfer of $5,000 from the Contingency Fund to the General Fund regarding the purchase of printers and related equipment with 1999 grant monies from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Mr. Persaud: We received this back in 1999 and they didn't use it at that time. It was rolled over into fund balance. They are ready to use it now and it should come out of contingency to fund it. Mr. Grantham: So move. Ms. Beard: Second. 6 I nwm I I Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission 7 I 6. ..... - 7. ....,. 8. 9. - FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - November 8, 2004 2:00 P. M. 1. Consider a request from the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce regarding an abatement of property taxes for 2004 in the amount of $6, 1 02.02. (Referred from October 25 Finance) 2. Consider a request from Paine College for city sponsorship through the purchase of tickets for the Fifth Annual Masked Ball on February 11, 2005. 3.. Review third quarter Sept. 30,2004 fiscal year operating financial statements and accept as information. 4. Approve the acquisition of Two (2) 8500 GVW Pickup Trucks for the Recreation Department for $20,018.65 each from Bobby Jones Ford of Augusta, Georgia (lowest bid package for Bid 04-116). 5. Approve the acquisition of 16 light trucks, as described in the first attachment, to replace older model trucks of 5 divisions of Public Works. Approve the acquisition of One (l) 4 x 4 Sports Utility Vehic1e for Tax Assessor's Office for $22,809.25 from Bobby Jones Ford of Augusta, Georgia (lowest bid package for Bid 04-l31). Mohon to approve refunds on five accounts. Motion to adopt the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Resolution. Consider a request for tax exempt status from Dr. Sam Davis of30901 Development Corporation regarding the Linden Square L.P. property at 1425 Linden Street. (Map 58-2, Parcel 28) 10. Consider a request from Mrs. Lucile Ketch for a refund of her garbage collection fees. II. Approve deolaring as surplus and available for auction to be held on December 11, 2004 the items identified on the attached sheets. 12. Approve the acquisition of Three (3) Pumper Fire Trucks for the Augusta Fire Department from Harless Fire Equipment Company of Bessemer, Alabama for the amount of$329,000.00 each (lowest bid offer on Bid 02-048). I ADDENDUM FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS AGENDA November 8, 2004 2:00 P. M. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: 1. Motion to approve a request from the Solicitor's Office for the transfer of $5,000 from the Contingency Fund to the General Fund regarding the purchase of printers and related equipment with 1999 grant monies from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 2. Consider a request from Mr. John Zimjewski regarding the penalty on his personal property tax for a boat. 3. Consider a request from Christ Haven Baptist Church regarding an exemption from 2004 property taxes. 4. Consider a request from T & Z Associates regarding an adjustment of taxes to reflect the sale of property to the Georgia Department of Transportation. ~ - - ~ ..... .. --