Douglasville residents brace for a tax increase as the City Council plans to raise property taxes by 16.67% over the rollback millage rate. In response to rising property values and resulting reassessments, this move seeks to balance the city's budget given recent changes in revenue streams and service costs. As dictated by Georgia law, before implementing such a hike, the city must hold three public hearings for taxpayers to voice their opinions.
The necessity for the tax increase stems from a dual blow to Douglasville's finances. According to the City of Douglasville, renegotiations for Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds in 2022 resulted in a reduced share for the city, along with an increased cost for county services such as fire and animal control. Having to start paying these higher rates, the city anticipates the need to adjust the millage rate by an additional 1.25 mills.
The proposed hike will change the millage rate to 8.749 mills, up from 7.499 without the increase. For homeowners, this translates into an estimated annual cost of $175 for a home valued at $350,000, while non-homestead properties valued at $300,000 will see an annual increase of about $150. These figures are an essential consideration for residents planning their budgets, who will directly feel the impact of this policy change on a monthly basis.
The first two hearings will be held on August 15 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., while the final chance to speak up will be on August 29 at 5:00 p.m., with the Special Called Meeting to adopt the new rate following immediately after. All gatherings will take place at the Douglasville Conference Center.
