Milton's City Council meeting on Monday shone the spotlight on the accomplishments of summer interns, municipal finance updates, as well as modifications to local event permits and property assessments.
University of Georgia students and Milton natives, Luke Netto and Maddie Flores, were commended for their exceptional contributions to the community through the city's Summer Internship program. "The 2025 interns have been exceptional members of our team," said Community Outreach Manager Emily Salerno in a statement obtained by the City of Milton. Netto and Flores were involved in various projects, including improving the City's communication with Homeowners Associations, refining Milton's Strategic Plan online presentation, enhancing the Milton Youth Government Leadership Program, orchestrating a city-wide "Scavenger Hunt," sharing insights on the "Milton and Mane" podcast, and assisting in GIS mapping for city parks and trails, among others.
Fiscal matters also took the stage with presentations by Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill on the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget and millage rate. Harvill's analysis predicted revenue and expenditure trends, and deliberated on a proposed millage rate of 4.139 mills, which, would be the lowest in Milton's history, aiming to support a balanced budget. The second of three public hearings outlined millage rate implications, and a final hearing on the topic is scheduled for next Monday, as noted by the City of Milton.
Modifications to Little River Farms' operational footprint were also addressed, culminating in a revised Rural Event Facility Use Permit. After an extensive debate on appropriate noise level regulations, officials settled on a permitted 45 decibels prior to closing events, consistent with the past eleven years' regulations for the venue. No complaints or code violations have been reported during the facility's tenure, as detailed by the City of Milton.
Lastly, the Council put forth an Intergovernmental Agreement with Fulton County for conducting the forthcoming municipal election at no cost to the City, unless a runoff is necessary. Further discussions regarding election logistics are forthcoming on September 3. In the interim, the Council will reconvene next Monday to discuss millage rates and other agenda items during a Work Session and Special Called Meeting.
