Author: On Common Ground News

DECATUR, GA— Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will host an informational town hall to help DeKalb County residents gain a better understanding of the millage rate, as well as how their annual property tax liability is assessed. The DeKalb County Property Tax & Millage Rate Town Hall will be held on Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. and will take place virtually on Zoom. County programs including the Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) collects sales taxes throughout the year and use the revenue to offset property tax increases for eligible homeowners. Despite the cushion EHOST provides, many residents are…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 43-year-old Ellenwood, Georgia man on charges of shooting another man during an altercation at his residence on July 24, 2022. According to arrest warrants, Tomeaco Staples was shot in the chest and arm as he allegedly attempted to diffuse an argument between Fabain Leon Gaither and other unnamed persons. Warrants say that Gaither, an acquaintance, pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and fired several times, injuring Staples. No motive was given for the shooting. Gaither is charged with Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, both felonies. He…

DECATUR, GA– In collaboration with the Georgia Department of Public Health, the DeKalb County Board of Health has received more monkeypox vaccines to offer appointments for an additional vaccination event. The  vaccination event will be held on Friday, Aug. 5,  9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the North DeKalb Health Center, located at 3807 Clairmont Rd., NE, in Chamblee. A total of 240 appointments will be available for this date only. Appointments are required due to limited vaccine availability and can be obtained by visiting the Board of Health website. Individuals may experience issues with the appointment link: your internet connection, the volume…

DECATUR, GA– Efforts to improve water service capacity throughout DeKalb County will continue on Thursday, Aug. 18, with the launch of the North Shore Road Water Main Replacement Project. Crews will replace 11,200 linear feet of crumbling water lines with new 8-inch-diameter, ductile-iron water lines along North Shore Road. This line repair project is expected to last approximately 4 months (Aug. 2022 to Dec.2022), barring any weather delays. Normal construction hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays. An increase in construction-related noise and traffic during work hours should be expected.

STONECREST, GA– The City of Stonecrest is reviewing the results from a community survey to help determine the best use of funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA is an economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law on March 11, 2021. The Act provides approximately $1.9 trillion in assistance to help the country recover from the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Stonecrest has been allocated $9.7 million in ARPA funding. In total, Stonecrest garnered 840 responses to the survey. The city has a population of more tan 50,000…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Dozens of citizens gave the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners an earful at two public hearings held on Aug. 2 concerning the county’s proposal to raise the property tax millage rate by 45.42 percent. County officials stated in a news release that the increase would result in a millage rate of 20.758 mills, an increase of 6.483 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 14.275 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $250,000 is approximately $551.06 and the proposed tax increase for non‐homestead property…

ATLANTA– As schools and childcare programs across the state prepare for the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Gov. Brian P. Kemp and Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs have announced that all eligible childcare teachers and staff in Georgia will receive a second $125 “Back-to-School Supply Supplement” through the American Rescue Plan. A previous supplement was distributed in Spring, 2022. “As we head into a new school year, we will not stop working to provide our educators with the tools they need to set their students on successful paths of lifelong learning,” said Kemp. “We hope this Back-to-School Supply Supplement will…