Oakwood is sending out property tax bills today to city residents.

Taxes are due Feb. 1 and will go to support the city's 2012 budget, specifically the $3.5 million general fund that pays for the city's daily operations.

The total number of bills going out is 1,905, City Manager Stan Brown said.

The good news for residents is that, unlike many governments in these lean economic times, the city didn't raise its tax rate, even to make up for revenue lost because of lower property assessments.

The city expects to see $41,000 less in revenue by maintaining the rate at 2.48 mills for the 12th straight year, with 1 mill equal to $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value.

The budget year begins Jan. 1 and will end Dec. 31, 2012.

The total budget, adopted Nov. 14, is nearly $6.5 million, also including a $390,600 fund for 1 percent special purpose local option sales taxes and a $2.6 million sewer fund.

Budget highlights include:

• Not replacing two key administrators: former Assistant City Manager Patti Doss-Luna and former Planning Director Larry Sparks, who retired earlier this year. The positions will remain on the books, but not be immediately filled.
• A 2 percent cost-of-living raise for employees.
• Buying three new police cars and developing a fully fledged parks and recreation program with the Georgia Mountains YMCA.