The Bowdon City Council voted unanimously Monday to keep the city’s millage rate at the same level as the previous year, but was split in its decision to move forward with a water service analysis from Johnson Controls, Inc.

The city’s millage rate has stayed at 8.66 mills for the past three years. According to the Carroll County Georgia Board of Tax Assessors, the state’s 2009 millage rate was .25 mills and the Carroll County Schools rate was 18.10 mills, which brought the total millage rate for Bowdon to 35.51.

Mayor Jim Watts cast the deciding vote that led to the approval of a proposed contract that would allow Johnson Controls to evaluate the city’s water-and power-related operating efficiencies in city buildings and infrastructure, while primarily focusing on the city’s water meters.

Councilmen Wes McEntyre and Johnny Cook also voted for the $48,500 analysis that would make recommendations on where the city could save on energy and avoid water loss. The city would not have to pay for the analysis if it found that the changes recommended would not save the city enough to cover the cost of those changes. Otherwise, the city could roll the cost of the analysis into the overall cost of the project.

The city of Bremen and the Haralson County Water Authority have already contracted with Johnson Controls and updated their water meter reading systems. Watts, Councilman Ray Garrett and Cook recently toured the water plants and talked to their directors to learn more about the contract.

Garrett, who expressed concern over the cost associated with the analysis, opposed the contract. Councilwoman Betty Jones, who was also opposed, was concerned about residents who would be affected by rate increases.

“It just sounds like a terribly expensive program that we’re expecting our citizens to pay for,” Jones said.

Cook pointed out the rate increases would only affect those who have used thousands of gallons a year without paying for it. Jones, however, said she felt the city did not have that many residents who were not paying their share.

Council members also unanimously approved borrowing $100,000 from Branch Banking & Trust at an interest rate of 4.61 percent following a delay in state tax funds.

City Manager Jimmy Meigs pointed out that the council borrowed money last year for the same purpose.

Meigs said the loan was needed last year because the state had not been issuing sales tax checks in a timely fashion.

The state sends the checks to the county, which then disperses the money to the cities.

“We don’t get our tax money from the state and county until about October so we needed money to meet the ends so we borrowed the money,” Meigs said.

The city has until Dec. 31 to pay the loan amount off.

The council also unanimously voted to refinance a BB&T loan of $2 million and adding $500,000 at an interest rate of 4.61 percent for design work to upgrade the water plant. Council members also unanimously voted to adopt a sewer rate resolution.

Although the council accepted the rate with the budget, Meigs said the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires them to have it done through a resolution.

In other council business:

• Garrett said council members gave their pay for this month back to the city.