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Milton moves forward with tax reduction By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Milton officials were set this week to formally adopt a property tax rate of 4.193 mills, a 4 percent decrease from last year. At the first two public hearings held Aug. 4, the City Council outlined plans to adopt the lower rate, which is expected to shave about $68 from the local tax bill of a person who owns a $900,000 home. The savings is based on the lower millage rate, local homestead exemptions and whether the home has gained no significant value over the past year. A final vote to set the levy was set for Aug. 11. Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill presented details on the tentative property tax rate, as well as tips for residents on how to calculate the rate’s impact. One mill generates $1 per $1,000 of an assessed property’s value, which is equal to 40 percent of its fair market value. “Property taxes are calculated by multiplying that millage rate by the assessor taxable value which has been adjusted for any exemptions that you may have,” Harvill said.
See MILTON, Page 25
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Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory advocates for a 12.5 percent increase to property taxes during the Aug. 6 meeting and final adoption of the 2025 millage rate. With looming costs like upgrades at the Rice Street jail and a new hospital south of Atlanta, Ivory said she will continue to push for a rate increase.
Fulton County keeps tax rate at current level By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to keep the property tax rate flat at 8.87 mills Aug. 6 after hours of strong debate. Residents — both homeowners and renters — sent thousands of emails to commissioners and spent hours explaining their opposition during public comment this summer at Fulton County Assembly Hall.
County officials estimate the adopted rate will yield general fund revenue totaling $930 million in 2025. That’s up from an estimate of $915 million at the end of January. The actual revenue taken in during 2024 is around $879 million. There was no discussion of adopting a rate lower than last year. The funding conversation bled into a discussion about Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat, the federal government’s consent decree and how county
staff handles the budget process. During public comments Aug. 6, no one spoke in favor of a proposed tax hike. During hundreds of public comments in July, one former county official advocated for a small increase of around half a mill. Before the final public hearing and vote, county staff presented a mid-year budget review projecting $15 million more in revenue and $54 million less in expenses than anticipated in the fiscal year 2025 budget.
See TAX, Page 24
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