Residents of Cobb County could see their property taxes go up, as the county's Board of Commissioners has announced an intended 9.01 percent increase over the rollback millage rate for this year's County Maintenance & Operations (General) Fund, according to a notice on the county's official website. This decision, influenced by the recovery of the local real estate market and hence an uptick in property values, could mean a higher tax bill for property owners in the area.
The annual reassessment of property values is a routine mandate, but this year's reassessment resulted in an increase in the fair market value of many properties, leading to a rise in the total tax revenue projection and whereas Georgia law then calls for a computed rollback rate to match the last year's revenue, sans reassessments, the proposition at hand seems to vouch for a heftier millage rate in 2024. The proposed rates by the Cobb County Commissioners are setting the General Fund millage at 8.46, and the respective rates for the Fire millage at 2.99, the Debt Service (Bond Fund) at 0.00, the Cumberland Special Services District II at 2.45, and the Six Flags Special Services District at 3.50.
Transparency and public feedback lie at the heart of these potential changes, with Georgia law ensuring that citizens have a say before anything is set in stone—mandating the county to conduct three public hearings on the proposed tax increase. Concerned locals are encouraged to voice their opinions during these hearings scheduled for July 9 at 9 AM, July 16 at 6:30 PM, and the final one on July 23 at 7 PM, all to take place at the Board of Commissioners meeting room in Marietta, Georgia.
The final verdict on the 2024 Property Tax Millage Rates, outlined by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, will be made following the last public hearing on July 23 at 7 PM, but not without the Board mandating public involvement in what could be crucial in shaping the county's financial landscape for the hardworking residents of Cobb County. The countdown to these decisions and their implications for homeowners and the community alike are now the talk of the town as the hearings loom over the hot Georgia summer, stirring discussions on fiscal responsibility and the acceptable limit of levies imposed by local governance.
