FLEMINGTON – Flemington residents will have the first city property tax bills coming to them.

City council members approved a millage rate of 2.829 following a third and final hearing on the proposed millage rate. The three hearings are mandated by state law when a government is proposing a millage rate that results in a property tax increase – and this is the first millage rate levied in the city’s history.

“We’re growing, and that’s what the millage rate is about,” said Council member and mayor pro tem David Edwards. “We’ve had the luxury of the last 80 years of not having any millage rate. We’ve come to the point now where the millage rate would help us provide services.”

The property tax is projected to bring in about $246,000 to the city. On a home valued at $175,000, the city tax bill is expected to be $192.

The city’s general fund budget pays for such things as street lights, Edwards pointed out. Plus, the city is looking to add a full-time employee and has aspirations for a new city hall.

The city has intergovernmental agreements with Hinesville to provide fire services and an IGA with Liberty County for two sheriff ’s deputies. Those costs are borne by the city’s general fund, Edwards said. He said he’d like for the city to have 24/7 law enforcement coverage. The city also used its impact fees to help Hinesville buy a new fire truck, but the use of impact fees is limited, Edwards added.

“Fire and law enforcement are important to us, and we have to pay for those out of the general fund,” he said.

Edwards said the city is growing, and leaders want to provide more services as the growth continues. The city has purchased land and has started a downtown development authority, along with putting in place a commercial overlay district.

“It’s been a busy year,” he said. “We have accomplished a lot for the city and I think everyone would agree we are definitely growing, and so are our services.”

In the future, the city hopes to create a historic district, plus expand its infrastructure and its recreational opportunities. Edwards said the city hopes to get grants to help with some of that.

“If we do nothing, growth will grow up around us,” he said. “To keep up with the growth, we have to have some of these things we’ve talked about and we have to pay for those.”

Edwards also dispelled the notion that the city is awash in revenue from the hotel-motel tax. The city, Edwards pointed out, gets to keep a small percentage of the hotel-motel tax receipts and has to disburse the remainder to other entities.

“Some folks think we’re rolling in hotel money,” he said. “But we’re not.”

The city also has accepted a bid from Atlantic Waste Services to provide garbage pickup for Flemington residents. The county had been picking up trash but is ending its arrangement with the city.