Roswell Property Tax Rate Remains Unchanged After Council Vote

ROSWELL, GA – Roswell residents likely could see a hike in their property tax in the next fiscal year after city officials announced this week that the millage rate will remain at 4.955 mills following a vote of the city council.

Fiscal year 2021 will be the third straight year in which the millage rate has gone uncharged. The Roswell City Council lowered the rate from 5.455 in 2018 after the property tax rate had remained at that level since 2009, city officials said.

The measure was approved in a 4-3 vote of the council this week despite the fact that the city faces a budget shortfall of $500,000. Council members Christine Hall, Marcelo Zapata and Mike Palmero opposed the measure in this week's vote.

The current rate includes a maintenance and operations component of 4.705, which goes toward supporting the city’s general fund services and programs, which includes those offered by the city’s public safety departments, parks and recreation and transportation, the city said in a news release.

The city’s debt services accounts for 0.250 of the rate and applies to city bonded debts, low-rate loans for special projects and other projects that have been previously been approved by voters.

Out of the total property tax that a Roswell resident pays each year, City taxes are equal to approximately 15 percent of their total bill. Taxes paid to Fulton County Schools and Fulton County account for approximately 54 percent and 31 percent, respectively. For example, based on the 4.955 millage rate, a Roswell resident who owns a property with a Fair Market Value of $250,000 (assessed value of $100,000 or 40 percent of the Fair Market Value) would pay $495 for their City tax, the city said.

Finance Director Ryan Luckett told the council that his staff is working on recommendations that would reduce city spending as well as possible other cuts that could help the city address the shortfall while searching for possible revenue streams from other sources, NorthFulton.com reported.

Mayor Lori Henry told council members she is comfortable with the measures Luckett is taking to address budget needs. According to NorthFulton.com, Henry told the council that the $500,000 shortfall existed in June when the budget was approved and that the council voted to transfer funds to over the gap from a capital project funds.

“Running our operating budget off of the unassigned [capital] fund balance is not a good practice,” Henry said, according to the report. “I firmly believe that money needs to be paid back into that fund.”