Fulton wants to keep taxes stable and tighten belts

Commissioners Marvin Arrington Jr. and Dana Barrett voted against keeping the rate, while Commissioner Natalie Hall abstained.

County staff proposed keeping the rate unchanged in hopes that the value of the tax proceeds would increase by 7%, Finance Director Hakeem Oshikoya said. But values ​​have increased only 6.35% this year.

Thus, keeping the same rate Oshikoya said that would leave the county $12 million short of what is needed to balance the budget, assuming a 96 percent tax collection rate. It also means the county will have to cut costs further in the coming year, freezing any new spending and critically examining one-time expenses.

Federal funds used to reduce the court backlog and therefore prison overcrowding are expected to be exhausted by the end of the year. Several judges, Public Defender Maurice Kenner and Solicitor General Keith Gammage have lobbied the commissioners for more funding, or at least consistent funding, particularly in light of Senate Bill 63, a law of state that takes effect Monday and increases the number of offenses that require cash bail to get out of jail.

Barrett asked if there was an estimate of the impact of SB 63.

There have been some discussions with the courts and law enforcement officials, but no financial analysis or study of how this will affect the inmate population, Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore said.

Barrett noted that several justice officials have said they expect a “significant increase” in the prison population.

Gammage asked commissioners to permanently retain additional workers hired with federal pandemic funds to reduce a massive court backlog.

“It would be a travesty to let them go, because if we do, we will turn back time,” he said.

Kenya Johnson, chief probate judge, said probate and guardianship cases now take six months to process. Her court needs more judges and staff, she said.

State Court Chief Justice Wes Tailor said the remaining backlog of cases is complex and cannot be handled quickly. He argued at length that even outside of old cases, the state court will need more money and staff next year to handle its workload.

Before voting, commissioners discussed at length the financial impact on efforts to improve health care in the south county and needed repairs at the Fulton County Jail.

The county’s millage rate has been higher in the past and has declined over the years, Barrett said.

“It was over 9 (mills) as recently as 2021,” she said, adding that the coming year will be the third in which county spending exceeds projected revenue.

Commissioner Bridget Thorne sought to reduce the rate slightly. Both attempts failed.

Although the final rate has not been set, this year’s assessed value notices have already been mailed to Fulton property owners and are also available at www.fultonassesseur.org. Due to mail delays, residents are urged to check their reviews online; those who do not have a computer can go to the assessment board office.

Property owners have 45 days to appeal the tax notices. For most taxpayers, this deadline is August 2, but individual dates will be printed on tax notices.

Appeals may be filed with the Review Board in person, by mail or online.

Many homeowners can take advantage of homestead exemptions to reduce their bills. Each Fulton County property with a basic homestead exemption may also qualify for at least two “floating” exemptions, depending on the county.

The assessed value of a home is 40 percent of its assessed market value, less any exemptions, Commissioner Bob Ellis said in an email to voters. But exemption requests must have been filed by April 1 to have an impact on this year’s tax bill, he added. The cities of Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell administer their own taxes, so residential assessments in those areas will not reflect all of the exemptions a homeowner may be eligible for, Ellis said.

There are 18 taxing jurisdictions in Fulton County, including cities and school boards. All will set their own millage rates in the coming weeks.

For more information, go to www.fultonassesseur.org or call 404-612-6440.