By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Porterdale sees one qualify for vacant Post 3 seat
PORTERDALE
Evan Newton
Updated: Aug 19, 2024, 5:16 PM
Published: Aug 19, 2024, 5:13 PM

PORTERDALE, Ga. – Only one citizen qualified last week for the vacant Post 3 council seat for the city of Porterdale.

Leigh Canada was the lone qualifier during the qualifying period last week. Canada is currently a member of the zoning commission.

The seat was left vacant after former council member Kelsey Peeples resigned after moving away from the area. This will be the third time in as many years the seat will see a change after Michael Patterson left the seat upon becoming the city's new mayor.

Since no one else opted to qualify, Canada is set to take office following the special election in November.

Porterdale residents will also have the chance to determine if the council can be authorized to permit and regulate package sales by retailers of malt beverages, wine and distilled spirits on Sundays between 12:30-11 p.m.

The special election will take place on Nov. 5 with polls opening from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Porterdale City Hall. Early voting will take place from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Voters who are not currently registered can do so until Oct. 7 at the Newton County Board of Elections and Registration office.
Porterdale to consider tax increase
Porterdale
Submitted to The News
Published: Jul 28, 2025, 3:16 PM

The Mayor & Council of the City of Porterdale announce their intention to increase the 2025 City of Porterdale property taxes this year by 11.35% over the rollback millage rate.

Each year, the Newton County Board of Tax Assessors is required to review the assessed value of taxable property in Newton County for property tax purposes. When the trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the Board of Tax Assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment.

When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred. Before the Mayor & Council of the City of Porterdale can set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at City Hall, 2800 Main Street, Porterdale, Georgia on August 4, 2025, at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM and on August 14, 2025, at 6:30 PM.