Tuesday's approval came after three weeks of political wrangling that saw City Council members give final approval to two tax rates and miss a county deadline set up to ensure property tax bills go out on time.
"Anytime we can drive down property taxes, I'm happy," Beaufort Mayor Bill Rauch said after the council's vote to approve the tax rate. "I think it would make the taxpayer happy, too."
The new 55.8 millage rate was supported by Rauch along with council members Gary Fordham and Frank Glover while council members Donnie Beer and Billy Keyserling voted against the measure.
"The last three weeks have created turmoil with absolutely no leadership," said Keyserling, who is opposing Rauch in this year's mayoral race.
Rancor surrounding the debate revolved around tax savings now versus keeping those dollars in the budget in anticipation of a 20 percent reassessment cap that could take effect in January.
Under the proposed cap, which awaits the governor's signature, a $100,000 home that increased in value to $200,000 after this year's reassessment would be taxed based on a value of $120,000.
"Some people, (the) mayor, are going to get a 50 percent reduction in their taxes, and who's going to make up for that?" Keyserling asked of the potential reassessment cap. "We're not saving every penny we can to soften the blow before those people take a hard walk."
If the reassessment cap does take effect people who paid too much in property taxes would receive a refund while the city wouldn't be able to send out a second round of tax bills to people who underpaid, leaving Beaufort with a possible shortfall in tax revenue.
But Rauch maintained the council's ability to reduce the tax burden Tuesday was what needed to be considered.
"Anytime I can find a way to cut the millage rate, that is what we're going to do," he said.
Peter White, also a candidate for mayor and one of the few Beaufort residents who attended Tuesday's meeting, commented, "There are too many other places where this money to cover (the tax reduction) can be spent to help the citizens, especially in public works."
Rauch first tried to lower the millage from 59.3 mills to 57.3 mills at the council's Sept. 14 meeting but was fought off by council members who said the mayor's plan lacked precise figures and savings.
Rauch later introduced a refined plan to reduce the tax rate 5 mills, which he said would encourage people in unincorporated areas of the county near Burton to annex into the city.
At its Sept. 28 meeting the council gave final approval to a 59.3 millage rate only to turn around the next day and decide to reconsider the tax rate at Tuesday's meeting.
An extension to submit the tax rate, granted by Beaufort County Auditor Sharon Burris on Thursday, allowed the city to reconsider the millage. City Attorney Bill Harvey said the City Council could reconsider final approval of the millage even though a final version of a tax rate ordinance was passed last month because of an absence of adopted rules regarding reconsideration in the City Council's procedures.
The second push to drop the millage came from Fordham, who cited budget savings from the sale of property on Joyner Street while also taking money from the city's contingency fund.
Tuesday's final approval of the millage reduction was slimmed down to just include the Joyner Street property sale, which netted the city $185,668 more then expected.