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Ellis blasts county tax hike proposal By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
County Commissioner Bob Ellis says a bid to allow Fulton County to raise property taxes by 12 percent this year makes no sense. Ellis, who represents the western half of North Fulton, says the financial picture for 2025 remains strong. The County Commission will formally adopt a property tax rate Aug. 6.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis said he is “vehemently opposed” to increasing the property tax rate above it current 8.87 mills. The rate has remained flat since 2022. In a 4-3 vote June 18, the Board of Commissioners tentatively adopted a 2025 millage rate of 9.87 mills – a full mill higher. If formally adopted Aug. 6, the levy would represent a tax increase of 12.5 percent over the rollback rate. Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate be computed that will produce the same revenue as last year’s rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred. Even if commissioners keep the rate flat, property owners will likely still pay more. Commission Chairman Robb Pitts, a Democrat, joined North Fulton’s Republican commissioners Ellis and Bridget Thorne, to oppose capping this year’s levy 1 mill higher than county staff’s recommendation. Property owners pay taxes to help finance the county’s general fund, which pays for maintenance and operations. The general fund budget is expected to total $974 million this year. Property taxes make up the fund’s largest revenue source, taking in close to $700 million.
See ELLIS, Page 21
City uses postal ruling to pursue Johns Creek zipcode By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The City of Johns Creek may have a solution to an identity crisis that has lingered since it incorporated nearly 20 years ago. Mayor John Bradberry said on
July 24 that the city is awaiting response from the U.S. Postal Service for a request to allow residents to use “Johns Creek” in their address. Bradberry said he sent the request after finding unanimous support among members of the City Council. City officials previously considered lobbying for a unique ZIP code
to enhance residents’ sense of community and reduce confusion with mailing and directions. Addresses within the city currently may fall under several different ZIPs and include cities such as Alpharetta or Milton.
See ADDRESS, Page 20
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED
Johns Creek addresses currently use any one of several ZIP codes and city names. A U.S. Postal Service change would allow residents to list their city as Johns Creek.
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