Fulton County commissioners decided to cut the tax rate for residents, even if it means a bigger gap in the county budget.
Because the value of the county’s tax digest fell with the number of people who won appeals to have their property assessments lowered, commissioners actually had the opportunity to raise the tax rate without it being considered a tax increase.
Instead, they chose to lower it.
The 2016 rate will be 10.45 mills. In 2015, it was 10.5 mills. The roll back rate would have been 10.55 mills.
Vice Chairman Liz Hausmann wanted to lower the tax rate even more, to 10.211 mills, the level it was in 2013. No other commissioner supported her proposal.
The reduction means property owners could see a decrease in their tax bills, depending on their property assessments.
But it also means the county will collect an estimated $4.4 million dollars less in taxes than it would have if the rate had been raised.
Additionally, the county delayed sending out its tax bills due to a calculation error. The delay likely means that fewer people will pay their tax bill this calendar year, with some of the money the county expected in 2016 not coming until 2017.
The commission also elected to keep the South Fulton special tax rate the same, at 11.579 mills. It could have been raised to 12.009 mills without being considered a tax increase.
Property bills are expected to go out in mid-September.
