Fulton County, Georgia – For the 2025 fiscal year, Fulton County has decided to keep its property tax rate the same, which means the General Fund millage will stay at 8.87 mills. The Board of Commissioners reached the decision during their regular meeting on August 6. This is the fourth year in a row that the rate has been the same.
The proposed rate is estimated to bring in about $930 million in 2025. Despite that, county officials expect to save $54 million compared to the enacted budget. This is mostly because there are still open positions in many departments.
“I’m pleased that we can provide first-class services without having to raise taxes,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts. “Along with our AAA bond rating, today’s vote is a testament to the strong financial leadership of our County Manager and Finance team.”
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Fulton County has been able to cut its tax rate from 10.5 mills in 2015 to 8.87 mills now, which is a drop of about 16%. Property taxes remain the county’s biggest source of income, paying for a wide range of public services that affect almost every part of life for people in Fulton.
One of the main things those services do is put a lot of money into healthcare, like helping Grady Health System and the Morehouse School of Medicine. They also run programs for mental health. The county also runs a lot of elder facilities, makes sure that five court systems are running, helps the Sheriff’s Office and jail run smoothly, and runs elections and public libraries.
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The tax base also pays for animal care, arts activities, nonprofit funding, and attempts to boost the economy in the region.
County leaders continue to be careful as they watch how federal budget decisions affect things, even while the millage rate stays the same. Potential cost increases, especially those tied to compliance with a federal consent decree concerning jail operations, are being monitored closely.
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Fulton County still has programs to help homeowners who are having trouble paying their bills. These include two floating homestead exemptions and targeted exemptions for seniors and other groups that meet certain criteria.
The Board of Commissioners shows its commitment to budgetary discipline and public service by keeping the 8.87 mills rate. This is a balance that will be important as economic and legal constraints change.