Douglasville Expected To Roll Back Property Tax Rate

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — The property tax rate may soon be getting a little friendlier in Douglasville.

The mayor and city council are expected to vote during their August 15 meeting on the city's millage rate for the coming fiscal year.

According to a news release, property values in Douglasville increased 5 percent over the past year. Due to that growth of the tax digest, city officials discussed rolling back the rate at which properties are taxed at an August 1 meeting in order to prevent a de facto tax increase.

"Our goal is to be fiscally responsible and make the best use of the tax payer’s dollars," said Mayor Rochelle Robinson. “The staff has presented an option for the City of Douglasville to manage the decrease in funds and it will result in a saving to the citizens, which I believe is extremely important."

Georgia law requires millage rates to be rolled back each year to offset any inflationary increases caused by a growing tax digest.

The council plans to vote on a plan to roll back the current millage rate of 7.338 mills to 6.911 mills.

The millage rate is the amount per $1,000 that is used to calculate taxes on a property's taxable value. A higher rate means higher taxes and a lower rate means lower ones.

That change would amount to an overall decrease to the city's annual budget or $125,000.

City manager Marcia Hampton said money budgeted for contingencies and a potential increase in sales tax revenue should be enough to make up for that shortfall.

Douglas County has similarly rolled back back property tax rates throughout the county.

City council will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 15, in council chamber at the Douglasville Conference Center Auditorium, at 6700 Church St.