DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis Proposes Property Tax Hike

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- One month after raising water rates, DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis announced a plan to raise property taxes for homeowners as well.

Ellis delivered his state of the county address on Thursday moing before business owners and county leaders.

Ellis pointed out that he’s trying to tu the county’s fiscal future around even though $86 million in revenue has been lost during his two years in office.

"Federal, state, and local govements have all been challenged by static and limited revenue sources, increasing cost of providing basic services and the need to either raise taxes, reduce services, or both," said Ellis.

Ellis cited the decline in property values across DeKalb County as the reason for most of the revenue loss.

The CEO announced a proposed budget with a tax increase of 2.32 mills. A county official told Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh that the increase amounts to $20 a month for the average homeowner.

Ellis made clear the county has made cuts too, including not paying county employees for either Memorial Day or the Fourth of July.

The county lost 830 employees through an early retirement buyout and then eliminated 400 of those positions, according to Ellis.

Ellis said he's worked to keep public safety a top priority, and said crime has fallen despite seven police furlough days. Ellis said his next goal is to improve morale.

"I'm recommending a one-time $250 bonus for master police officers who have been at the top of their pay rate for one year or more," said Ellis

Ellis also announced several infrastructure projects funded through local stimulus money to create new jobs.

Ellis said the county only has $9 million dollars in reserve.