Towns accepting rollback millage rate, new parks and recreation director

HIAWASSEE, Ga – At the October county meeting, Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw announced the county would be accepting the rollback millage rate for 2021.

Towns County hasn’t increased taxes since 2008. The 2021 millage digest is 4.753 mills.

The city of Hiawassee accepted a rollback earlier in the year after a contested 3-2 vote. The rollback was 1.977 mills.

Towns County Board of Education’s millage rate is 6.863 net mills.

Commissioner Bradshaw earlier in the meeting discussed the financial standing of the county. Visitors continue to pour into the community and aren’t afraid to spend money. He asked for a comparison of last year’s sales tax to 2021.

• 2020: $1,288,777.91
• 2021: $1,661,020.71

The increase amounts to $372,242.79.

“That’s a huge increase in sales tax collection. I call that very good,” Bradshaw stated.

Towns constantly looking for new events and ways to bring people into the community along with the Chamber of Commerce, Hiawassee, and Young Harris.

New Recreation Director

After four years, Matthew Youngblood is leaving the Parks and Recreation Department for a new career.

“Matt has done a wonderful job and I wanted to publicly thank him. He’s been so easy to work with and so professional at taking care of parks and recreation,” Commissioner Bradshaw commended him.

Stuart Nichols will be taking over as the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

“Stuart is a very, very good man – a youth pastor at his church, loves children, loves interacting with children, has coached sports,” Bradshaw stated. “Stuart has jumped right in and is doing a wonderful job.”

COVID-19 cases in Towns County continue to drop from previous highs over the summer, but some people in the community are still struggling with serious illness. Last week, the mask mandate for the Enotah Judicial District Courthouses was lifted for the area.

A public safety grant from ACCG of $4,000 was awarded to Towns County for public safety officials. The money will be used to purchase safety equipment for the road department.