Newspaper Page Text
The Champion, Thursday, July 2 - 8, 2015
LOCAL
Page 20A
DeKalb cities could see increased property taxes
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Cities across the county have
tentatively adopted their 2015 mill-
age rates, and while most cities have
a lower millage rate than last year,
some residents could see an increase
in property taxes.
In Brookhaven, property taxes
could increase by 15.78 percent. The
city adopted the 2015 budget with
a proposed millage rate of 2.795
mills, the same as last year. Without
this tentative tax increase, the mill-
age rate will be no more than 2.414
mills, according to the city.
City officials said the increase is
due to the “revaluation of real prop
erty tax assessments.”
“When the city council adopted
the budget in December 2014, of
a budget of $20 million, they pro
jected $6.5 million in property tax
rates,” said the city’s financial di
rector Carl Stephens. “They made
that projection based on almost no
growth in the digest, and they made
that projection based on leaving the
millage rate the same. Now that the
digest has come in, [we project that]
if the millage rate stays the same
we’ll collect approximately [more
than $7 million]. That’s $600,500
more than what we had in the bud
get.”
The proposed tax increase for
a home in Brookhaven with a fair
market value of $300,000 is approxi
mately $43 and the proposed tax in
crease for non-homestead property
with a fair market value of $200,000
is approximately $31.
The Brookhaven City Council
also adopted an ordinance creating
a special taxing district in the 1-85,
North Druid Hills area. The district
proposes funding police and other
safety services from the tax millage
rate on properties in this designated
area.
The projected first year costs,
including capital, were projected to
be $683,000, according to the city.
The net cost, after prepayment of
start-up costs, was projected to be
approximately $205,000. The pre
liminary 2015 net tax digest for the
special tax district is $59 million.
As a new taxing district, an
initial millage rate of 4.21 was pro
jected.
In Avondale Estates, the city’s
millage rate would 16.53 percent,
increase property taxes. The tenta
tive increase will result in a millage
rate of 10.957 mills, an increase of
1.56 mills. Without this tentative tax
increase, the millage rate will be no
more than 9.403 mills.
Mayor Pro Tern Terry Giager
said he would like the millage be
10.957 mills.
“Because of the potential down
town development, I am for that
rate too,” he said. “I would welcome
open discussion on [other] options.”
The proposed tax increase for
a home in Avondale Estates with
a fair market value of $200,000 is
approximately $312, according to
the city. The proposed increase on
non-homestead property with a fair
market value of $200,000 is also ap
proximately $312, and the proposed
tax increase for a property with the
county basic homestead exemption
is $312.
Lithonia’s tentative adopted mill-
age rate would require an increase in
property taxes of 2.98 percent. The
increase will result in a millage rate
of 17.000, an increase of 0.492 mills.
Without this tentative tax increase,
the millage rate will be no more
than 16.508 mills, according to the
city.
The proposed tax increase for
a home with a fair market value
of $36,000 is approximately $24,
and the proposed increase on non
homestead property with a fair
market value of $70,000 is approxi
mately $48.
The tax value of commercial and
residential real property in Stone
Mountain increased 20.65 percent
in 2015, according to city manager
Gary Peet. The city administration
recommended a decreased mill-
age rate of 20.09 mils, which would
increase property tax revenue by
$102,700.
“The task for the governing
body is to balance the adopted mill
rate with the needs of the city verses
the impact of the taxpayers,” Peet
said. “We think that this is a reason
able adjustment to the mill rate to
accommodate the city’s needs.”