City Commission

ROME CITY COMMISSION Special Called Meeting Thursday, July 24, 2025 The Rome City Commission met in a special called meeting this date at 10:00 a.m. in the City Commission Chambers of City Hall, 601 Broad Street. Mayor Pro Tem Bojo presided with Commissioners Brock, Cochran, Beeman, Doss, Quick, Collins, and Robinson present. Mayor McDaniel was absent. 2025 Tax Increase – Public Hearing #2 Mayor Pro Tem Bojo announced that the City of Rome is required to hold a series of three Public Hearings due to the proposed 2025 Tax Mill Rate. The proposed mill rate for 2025 is the same as the 2024 mill rate, with a total city millage of 26.25 mills. Since the City of Rome is not reducing the millage rate to the “roll back” rate, a technical tax increase is in effect. The first Public Hearing was held at the City Commission meeting on July 14, 2025, and the third and final Public Hearing will be held at the City Commission meeting on July 28, 2025. Mayor Pro Tem Bojo called the Public Hearing to order. No one present indicated they wished to speak in favor of the proposed rate. Three guests indicated they wished to speak in opposition to the proposed millage rate. Ken Wright addressed the City Commission concerning this topic. Mr. Wright’s comments were focused on the Rome City School system. Mr. Wright reviewed various financial data regarding the Rome City School’s financial picture. The fund balances for the past several years were mentioned along with the past and current bond indebtedness. Mr. Wright indicated that the Rome City School system could be headed towards bankruptcy. He also stated that even though the city school system is spending more money per student than the county school system, the test scores do not reflect that expenditure. Mr. Wright encouraged the City Commission to consider dissolving the city school system and allowing it to be consumed by the Floyd County School system. Mr. Wright emphasized that the existing school buildings would still be used, and the students would still go to the same schools, however the County Board of Education would manage both systems. Ms. Sandra Bearden addressed the Commissioners. Ms. Bearden spoke primarily from a senior citizen position. She stated that she moved to Rome in 2020 and the local culture continues to decline. Specifically, Ms. Bearden is opposed to the City of Rome spending tax money for the Commissioners to visit Japan. She touched on funds spent on Public Safety, noting that she does not see a police presence in West Rome. She concluded her comments by encouraging the City Commission to make more responsible decisions. Mr. Billy Cooper addressed the City Commission and emphasized the benefits of an “economy of scale approach”. With cost continuing to escalate, Mr. Cooper encouraged the Commission to find a more economical way of providing services. Mr. Cooper addressed the following three areas: schools, police, and consolidated government. Mr. Cooper believes that the combining of the city and county school systems would produce an economy of scale and lower the per pupil 1 cost. He noted that Rome and Floyd County have three police organizations with the city police, the county police, and the Floyd County Sheriff. Most counties do not have this number of police units and encouraged the consideration to reduce the police departments from three to two with one police chief (and a Sheriff). Mr. Cooper also noted the large number of cooperative agreements that exist between the city and county, and he encouraged the city to consider complete consolidation of the city and county governments. Mr. Cooper concluded his comments by noting that the local tax digest is now an excess of $2.1 billion and encouraged the city Commission to face the hard questions that are on the table. With there being no further comments, Mayor Pro Tem Bojo closed the Public Hearing. Adjourn With the agenda item being concluded, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Joseph F. Smith City Clerk 2