The unemployment rate in Georgia was up in June. State officials say the rise is from seasonal and student workers entering the summer job market. In Northwest Georgia the unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.9%. Dalton recorded an unemployment rate of 4.7% last month. It was 3.8% the same time last year.
Property owners in Catoosa County could be paying more in taxes. Earlier this week the Catoosa County Board of Education proposed a reassessment of how property value is determined. The board has proposed an increase in property tax. Board Spokeswoman Marissa Brower says a property owner with a home value of $275,000 would pay an additional $383.13. The board will hold 3 public hearings about the proposed millage rate at the Catoosa County Board of Education in Ringgold. The hearings are set for August 6th at 11am and 6pm and August 13th for 6pm.
The head of a new commission tasked with recommending improvements to Georgia’s Medicaid program said yesterday she didn’t see a single solution for all the issues. Caylee Noggle was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp to chair the Comprehensive Health Coverage commission. Noggle made her remarks at the first meeting. State lawmakers created the commission this year after an effort to expand Medicaid fully fell apart. Supporters of full Medicaid expansion say it could provide coverage to roughly half a million low-income Georgia residents at no extra cost to the state, at least initially. Governor Kemp has rejected full expansion, saying it would cost the state too much money in the long run. Kemp has pushed a partial expansion that was launched last year. It requires recipients to show at least 80 hours of work, volunteer activity, school or vocational rehabilitation. It’s the only Medicaid program in the country with a work requirement. There are only 4,300 enrollees in the program. State officials had expected tens of thousands by this point.
The latest restaurant health inspection report is out. Geo’s Smokehouse in LaFayette scored a 97. The LaFayette Papa John’s got a 91.
