Gwinnett County residents can breathe a sigh of relief as their wallets won’t be stretched further by higher property taxes this year. According to an announcement by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, as reported by Gwinnett County, the general fund millage rate has been kept at a steady 6.95 mills, marking a move to maintain the status quo despite the pressures of inflation on the local government and its constituents.
The decision made yesterday came after the board opened the floor to the public through a trio of hearings and an online comment form, "Inflation has impacted everybody, including local government," Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson stated, explaining the reasoning behind maintaining the current millage rate and how it serves the community by allowing the delivery of crucial services without increasing the burden on homeowners with the value offset exemption, as mentioned by Gwinnett County.
The property tax equation is not solely in the hands of the county but also involves school districts and city governments, with one mill representing a dollar tax per thousand dollars of the assessed property value. It is the Gwinett County Tax Assessor's role to determine the tax digest, which includes the updated values of residential and commercial properties annually.
For most homeowners in Gwinnett County, the rate stabilization translates to no increase in the county government's portion of the property tax, thanks to the value offset exemption. Meanwhile, the total property tax millage rate for 2024 in unincorporated areas of the county sits at 14.71. Specialty services, such as those provided by districts that cover police protection, emergency services, and code enforcement, will also not experience a hike in their millage rates this year.
Detailed information about millage rates and property tax breakdowns is accessible through the county's website for those interested in crunching the numbers or understanding the finer points of their tax commitments. This move will kickstart the process for the Tax Commissioner’s Office, which is now gearing to send out property tax bills in August, with homeowners and mortgage lenders required to settle their dues in October. Options for payment include via mail, online, at the main tax office, or through special drop boxes at tag offices.
