Decatur’s City Commission is set to dive into next year’s finances Monday night, taking its first official step toward adopting the city’s fiscal 2026-27 budget. On the agenda: choosing a tentative millage rate that will shape upcoming property tax bills. City Manager Andrea Arnold’s packet reportedly suggests keeping the combined city millage the same as this year, even as DeKalb County property values continue to climb. Monday’s presentation is the opening act for a longer budget work session and a round of public hearings that will run until a final rate is adopted in mid-June.
When and where to watch
The commission’s regular meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the City Commission chamber at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St. According to the City of Decatur, the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget will be available online by May 20, with an extended budget work session slated for early June.
What’s on the table
According to Decaturish, Arnold’s recommendation is to hold the combined city millage at 12.97 mills for the coming fiscal year. Because Georgia law treats any proposed rate that is higher than the calculated rollback rate as a tax increase, that approach triggers extra steps. The city has to advertise the potential bump and hold public hearings. The Georgia Department of Revenue lays out the state rules and how the rollback rate is calculated.
Hearings and next steps
The city’s budget calendar calls for at least two public hearings: an initial hearing on June 1, followed by a final hearing and adoption on June 15, with an extended budget work session scheduled for June 3. The City of Decatur notes that hearings will be held both in person at City Hall and virtually, with registration details and livestream links posted on the city’s budget page.
Other items on the agenda
Taxes are not the only money talk lined up for Monday. The commission is also set to weigh in on capital projects and grant matches, including a proposed 2.4 million dollar construction contract for the Ebster Park teen activity area highlighted in the meeting packet, per Decaturish. Staff have also flagged a local-match request tied to a West Ponce de Leon speed-management effort, a project that has come up in recent commission work sessions and is reflected in the city’s meeting record. Decatur City Commission transcript
What this means for taxpayers
For homeowners, the headline is a bit counterintuitive: the millage rate can stay “unchanged” and tax bills can still creep up. When the total taxable value of property on the digest rises, keeping the same rate generates more revenue and can mean higher bills for many property owners. That technical detail is exactly why state law requires cities to publish legal notices and hold multiple hearings whenever a proposed rate is higher than the rollback number. The Georgia Department of Revenue explains how the rollback rate and changes in the digest feed into what shows up on individual tax bills.
City staff plan to post the full proposed budget online, with copies also available at City Hall and the Decatur Library once the packet is released. Residents will be able to review the documents, sign up to speak at hearings or submit written comments to the City Manager’s office before the commission votes. Expect more detail and plenty of charts from staff presentations at Monday’s meeting and in the follow-up work sessions as officials work toward a final decision in mid-June.
