Rezoning fees could increase in Pickens County

Photo by Susan Kirkland Rob Jones, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, signs documents for the county to get funds from the CARES Act fund.

Commissioners Becky Denney and Jerry Barnes talk between Thursdays called meeting and work session

Planning and Development is preparing to raise the cost of rezoning, by $350 in some cases. Justin Kilgore, Director of Planning and Development said the increase was neccessary because of the cost of doing rezoning. The rezoning process can range from between $725-$950 for paying the zoning commission legally required advertising and signage, and registering the deeds.

“Right now, the residents are paying for a lot of these through taxes,” he said. “This tax the burden off of them and in the hands of the person wanting the rezoning,” he said. “This gets us a little closer to breaking even.

Commissioner Becky Denney asked if there was a way to break it in stages. “Going from $150 to $500 is a big jump,” she said referring to the fees for residential agriculture and small agriculture rezoning applications.

The five-year history and tax digest for 2015-2020.

“It would ease the shock,” Kilgore said. He also stated that the county saw a four-percent increase in permits and licensing over 2019. His department has processed 78 building permits and 20 business license.

WATCH THE MEETING ON YOUTUBE.

The commissioners could not vote on it because it was a work session, but agreed to revisit it at the next scheduled regular meeting.

The county is looking at a decrease in the millage rate, for the fourth year to 7.6130 from 7.7790 or .166 decrease. Taxes levied in 2020 say an increase to $11, 620,571, up $332,107 or 2.94-percent from $11,288,464 in 2019. The increase was attributed to inflation and reassessments.

The Pickens County Board of Commissioners awarded a paving bid to Colditz Paving ,out of Blairsville. They were the low bid at $1.018 million out of five bids. The highest bid was $1.6 million.