The City of Hinesville adopted the 2020 millage rate after conducting their third public hearing during their Nov. 19 City Council meeting. The millage rate adoption the City Mayor and Council approved means a property tax increase for Hinesville residents of roughly 2.97 percent. This increase follows other increases in taxes by the Liberty County Board of Commissioners and the Liberty County School System. The millage rate will stay at 10.5 mills.

The Mayor and Council approved to award $128,114 to Stage Front for audio visual equipment upgrades in City Hall and Municipal Court.  The funding is part of the 1.7 million the city received from the Coronavirus Relief Grant Funding. The allocation budget included a provision for an estimated $151,313 for audio visual equipment and software needed to enable virtual and streaming capabilities in City Hall and Municipal Court.

Mayor and Council approved to authorize the submission of a grant request to the

Georgia Department of Transportation for the 2022 State Fiscal Year Section 5307 Urbanized Area Grant application. The City is considered an Urbanized Area by the Federal Transit Administration because its population is under 200,000 and therefore, eligible for Section 5307 funding. The appropriation for FY22 is $775,693 and the City is requesting the full appropriated amount and

additional supplemental federal funding in the amount of $216,800. This funding covers operations from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and capital expenditures from July1, 2021 through June 30,

2023.

City Manager Kenneth Howard reminded the Mayor and Council of the upcoming Show-Cause Hearing scheduled for Dec. 03, at 5:00 p.m. with the owners of Big Apple Nightclub.