City of Warner Robins recognize employees, speak on FLOST 

WARNER ROBINS —  The City of Warner Robins recognized multiple longtime serving employees during their recent council meeting on Monday, Jan. 20. 

These employees include: 

• Jason Grube, who works in Ground Maintenance for recreation, parks and cultural services. He has been serving the city for 15 years. 
• Chris Fussell is a Sergeant with the Warner Robins Police Department. He has been serving in the department for 20 years. 
• Also with the Warner Robins Police Department, Captain Eric Gossman has completed 30 years of service. 
• Finally, Kent Jordan has been the Street Operations Superintendent for Public Works for 35 years. 

Later, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick and council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement regarding the Floating Homestead Local Options Sales Tax (FLOST). This agreement includes the Houston County Board of Commissioners, City of Perry and City of Centerville. 

City Administrator James Drinkard explained it is part of House Bill 581, which was a statewide floating homestead property tax exemption. He said if the county and its municipalities opted into the sales tax exemption, they had the ability to go to the voters for a one cent local options sales tax. This would be used to bring down the property tax millage rate, Drinkard explained. 

He said the FLOST is an additional property tax forgiveness. Each jurisdiction would see a 3.54 millage rate reduction which would directly benefit homestead properties, Drinkard shared. 

“This is a direct benefit to residential properties that carry homestead exemptions. We have stressed it multiple times if you are a homeowner in Houston County [or] in the City of Warner Robins [and] you do not have your homestead exemption, please get your homestead exemption,” he said. 

Drinkard shared homeowners can file for it until April 1. Once they have filed the homestead exemption, they do not have to do it again until they become eligible for the Senior Homestead Tax Exemption offered by the city. 

The City of Perry, City of Centerville and the Houston County Board of Commissioners have also approved the IGA during their most recent meetings. The FLOST will be on the ballot on May 19. 

Towards the end, Patrick recognized National Human Trafficking Prevention month and the members of the Fort Valley chapter of Links Incorporated. 

Patrick thanked them for the work across the region especially with spreading awareness about human trafficking. 

“It is happening inside of our community in ways we can educate ourselves on how to realize and recognize someone who may be a victim of human trafficking,” she said. 

To view the meeting’s agenda and supporting documents, visit the city’s website. A full look at the meeting can be found on the city’s Facebook page.