[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,97],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6703133,"mediaKeyId","5550416-7d04f48804bf130c93747c1171b47cb0","parentId",5550416,"title","Fulton County keeps millage rate at 8.87 after hours of public comment; commissioners hear midyear budget review and consent‑decree costs","audioSeconds",7531,"startMs",2834000,"endMs",10365000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550416-7d04f48804bf130c93747c1171b47cb0&start=2834&end=10365","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550416-7d04f48804bf130c93747c1171b47cb0/thumbnail_2834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6703133/Fulton-County/Georgia/Fulton-County-keeps-millage-rate-at-887-after-hours-of-public-comment-commissioners-hear-midyear-budget-review-and-consentdecree-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6703133-e9c096212ab90bb25a910cade570f41c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604750&Signature=ciebdCtG9e6yYwQghmVg-rTjfSloAPhCf11VZDnu76LvXdLj0ArM1KtEDP9p0NoLMsbB1KCXt~IHrOfKo4PlGJxiFQHRBCdjkRqz5YcpEMBUjFmNrm3r4z~hhj4bnYH3Jteomwrrn0G08PBCBT6K3j-GifATmBq9Nr53wKrgbzv73q5~V4jZaxMH6K49~B79AurP3TF~ep4u6RnaiCmFRpNmh~miO9O~2pNVH5KjyH9mb6Gi0ucTt-N3I3ANlqt5Ma8jDwZyeAYPSeIT4F2suIAQnhAn8UH1~mtZM3lQYBKfsLBB9rlH3nZFhZ9tmkPEPOJxuFYJkIY-rP0lFac4DA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fulton County Georgia ","date","2025-08-06T21:48:56Z","article","The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday voted to set the county's 2025 general‑fund millage rate at 8.87 mills after a lengthy public hearing in which dozens of residents urged commissioners not to raise property taxes.

The vote followed a midyear budget review from county finance staff showing stronger-than-anticipated receipts in sales and public utility taxes and an estimated $54 million underrun in operating spending; together, the office projected roughly $69 million in additional year‑end fund balance under the current 8.87 millage projection. The board adopted the millage on a 6–1 vote.

Why it matters: Commissioners said they face competing fiscal pressures — most immediately a federal consent decree stemming from conditions in the county jail — while many residents argued an increase would push seniors and other households out of the county. County staff said some of the consent‑decree costs are not yet fully quantified and will be a moving target through the rest of 2025.

Budget review and the consent decree
County Chief Financial Officer presented a midyear review showing that fiscal 2025 revenue is running above the budgeted plan chiefly because of stronger local option sales tax receipts and a larger final public utility tax billing than was available when the budget was set. The office projected roughly $930 million in total revenue at the adopted millage (8.87 mills) and about $1.0 billion if the county adopted a proposed 9.87 millage.

On the spending side the county projects about $936 million in general‑fund expenditures, roughly $54 million less than the adopted budget — driven largely by a running personnel vacancy rate and other under‑spending. Putting those projections together yields an estimated year‑end fund balance materially higher than the reserve level assumed when the budget was adopted.

CFO Sharon Whitmore (presenting) cautioned that some consent‑decree and staffing items remain in flux and that final 2025 outlays will depend on timing, appeals and hiring patterns. The county is already identifying near‑term compliance items — monitoring fees, contract adjustments and initial corrective measures for jail operations — and expects additional identified costs before year end.

Public comment and political pressure
Commissioners heard more than an hour of public testimony in Assembly Hall and many additional statements submitted by Zoom. The comments were overwhelmingly opposed to raising the millage (the county’s measure of property tax rates); speakers included elected officials from cities inside Fulton County and many residents who said recent assessment increases already made housing unaffordable.

State Rep. Deborah Silcox told the board: \"This decision to raise the millage rate 12.49% at one time will disproportionately affect senior citizens and those that are disadvantaged in our community.\" Lee Hills, a Roswell city council member, cited a breakdown of typical bills in Roswell and warned that higher Fulton taxes \"would exacerbate financial strain, accelerate out‑migration, and stifle economic growth.\" Maria Gaudio, a Fulton resident, told commissioners that property taxes on her home had already doubled in two years and called a new increase a political issue for the upcoming election.

At the same time, Commissioner Moe Ivory — who repeatedly said he was prepared to stand alone — argued the county faces a real and present crisis tied to jail conditions and court supervision, and he urged the board to plan for the costs the consent decree will impose. \"I may be the only commissioner planning to vote for the increase,\" Ivory said, adding that he wanted the county to be able to meet federal compliance requirements and to replace closed hospital capacity that affects county residents.

Board reaction and next steps
Commissioners debated how much of the midyear surplus should be dedicated to consent‑decree compliance versus other priorities. Commissioner Dana Barrett said the process for setting the millage this year was harder than normal because of those unknowns but that the board needed better long‑range planning; Commissioner Khadija Abdul Rahman said she had received hundreds of constituent contacts urging no increase and moved to set the millage at the rollback rate of 8.87 mills.

The board adopted 8.87 mills by a 6–1 margin. County staff will return to commissioners with refined cost estimates for consent‑decree compliance and with a request for follow‑up budget adjustments where needed. The county manager and CFO both urged the board to view some of the consent‑decree costs as multi‑year obligations in which partial spending this year would be less than full annualized costs.

Votes at a glance (items acted on Wednesday)
- Adopt 2025 general‑fund millage rate at 8.87 mills: outcome — approved; tally 6 yes, 1 no. (Motion moved by Commissioner Khadija Abdul Rahman; second not specified in public record.)
- Adopt consent agenda (initial): approved, 5 yes, 0 no. (Consent agenda items carried by single motion.)
- Approve midyear budget soundings and adjustments (risk connect maintenance increase, etc.): approved (unanimous where recorded). Specific soundings approved included a $25,000 increase for risk‑management software (voted unanimously).
- Authorize contracts and settlements presented from executive session, including: request for representation (items 1–3): approved, 5 yes, 0 no; opioid settlement with Purdue (item 5): approved, 5 yes, 0 no; other settlement authorities (items 6,7): approved, 5 yes, 0 no.
- Approve Walls Group recruitment contract (not to exceed $788,000): approved, 5 yes, 0 no.
- Approve employment contract extension for County Manager Richard Anderson (four‑year term; annual salary $371,000): approved, 5 yes, 0 no.
- Approve childcare pilot benefit summary and amended eligibility (waive 10‑mile radius for special‑needs placements): approved unanimously.

What commissioners said going forward
County leaders said the most important next steps are (1) refining and prioritizing consent‑decree spending requests so the board can act in a measured way and (2) exploring a longer‑term financial plan that maps recurring obligations (courts, new judgeships, health‑care access, facilities) over multiple years.

Ending note
Board members agreed the meeting reflected strong public engagement and that staff must return with more specific cost estimates for the consent decree and related jail remediation. Commissioners also pledged to bring analysis of commercial assessment appeals and other pressing revenue‑integrity issues back to the board for consideration in a future session.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fulton County Board of Commissioners Meeting - August 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday voted to set the county'025 general‑fund millage rate at 8.87 mills after extended public hearings and a midyear budget review that showed stronger revenues and underspending producing a projected $69 million increase in year‑end fund balance.","taxTitle","Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",2952,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6700968,"Fulton County sets 2025 general fund millage at 8.87 after hours of public opposition",13640,2735000,16375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550416-7d04f48804bf130c93747c1171b47cb0&start=2735&end=16375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550416-7d04f48804bf130c93747c1171b47cb0/thumbnail_2735000.jpg","/articles/6700968/Fulton-County/Georgia/Fulton-County-sets-2025-general-fund-millage-at-887-after-hours-of-public-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6700968-e0ded82dd2c4ccfc7db2d1095e76a102/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604750&Signature=IUMFUij2E3-9ydCMEztab0CvQoGnr9hOcsXLyXd2hPsNr5eaFA3J4x7L6dbrPt11fnZgkCdL9ulG97m7Qo~d1ZgU5ZvtE6v2kY92k6u2ALK5gC~WBk4F3fBLf1QlFmV0GB0yIY1Jvi-5O1E~d7mgTssFLD0JLXGZqX~s1AddlY2BDVlW0TiEjD4W9BIXPuSmidr1B7MeIfi76wuWKwXWG8T~W7VeQ-lpt32TYt4X5TsWtQ6n~~n51kvRfeL0LXODFU5aWuNbPij4ZU1UOnYkJBlwkvmKZzJLZke9sWNoNrr-PAn7ikhMjZT~7f0KVUHKS5VcRRAcQG3zzxLGNf5Buw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to set the 2025 general fund millage rate at 8.87 mills after a long public comment period in which hundreds of residents urged the board not to increase property taxes.

The vote came after a midyear budget review showed revenues running ahead of plan and an expenditure underrun that left more funds available this year than were assumed when the budget was adopted. Commissioners who opposed an immediate increase said longer-term pressures — including a federal consent decree on the county jail, planned new judicial positions and rising benefits costs — could still require future tax action.

Why it matters: The millage rate determines how much property owners pay to the county. A higher rate would add to bills already rising because of higher assessed values; many residents and municipal leaders told commissioners a higher rate would push households and businesses to other counties.

Board action and context
The board set the general fund rate at 8.87 mills. The full tax bill for a given homeowner will also include a small general obligation bond millage (0.169 mills) and, where applicable, the Fulton Industrial District millage (rollback rate referenced for that district). The board discussed, but did not adopt, a higher advertised ceiling that had been placed on the agenda earlier in June.

Midyear review highlights
County finance staff told commissioners the year-to-date pattern of receipts and spending produces a more favorable 2025 picture than the assumptions used to adopt the budget in January:
- Under the adopted 8.87-mill rate, staff projected roughly $930 million in total revenue for 2025 and an estimated year-end general fund balance of about $234 million.
- Under a 9.87-mill scenario the same spending assumptions would have produced roughly $1.00 billion in revenue and an end-of-year balance of about $313 million.
- On the expenditure side, departments are collectively underspending the adopted budget; finance reported about a $54 million underrun versus budget assumptions, driven largely by personnel vacancy savings and timing of contract and program expenses.

Those projections were presented as contingent and subject to appeals, collection performance, and finalization of costs related to the county jail consent decree and other pressures.

Public comment: breadth and themes
Hundreds of residents participated in in-person and Zoom public comment. Speakers included state and municipal officials and a wide range of Fulton residents. Common themes:
- Opposition to any millage increase while many homeowners already face steep assessed-value-driven tax bills.
- Requests that the county use reserves, enforce fair commercial assessment, or reallocate existing spending rather than raise property taxes.
- Concerns about impacts on seniors and fixed-income households.

Representative Deborah Silcox (Georgia House of Representatives) told the board her earlier bill limiting property tax increases should guide local policy and warned against a one-time jump: “This decision flies in the face of that bill to raise the millage rate to 12.49.” Roswell City Council member Lee Hills urged commissioners to reject the proposed increase for his city’s residents, saying it would exacerbate out-migration and added financial strain. Resident Maria Gaudio told the board her personal property tax bill has doubled in two years and called a proposed increase “totally unnecessary.”

Commissioner comments and next steps
Commissioners debated competing priorities. Several commissioners said the midyear numbers give them comfort that an increase is not required this year; others warned that a range of structural and court-driven costs (notably items related to the federal consent decree over jail conditions) will require multi-year planning and may create pressure for revenue increases in future budgets.

The board directed staff to continue vetting costs associated with the consent decree, systemically review the assessor's commercial property valuations (a topic raised repeatedly by public speakers), and to return with further budget information ahead of next year’s planning cycle.

Votes at a glance (key approvals and outcomes from the Aug. 6 meeting)
- 2025 general fund millage rate (8.87 mills): Motion to adopt moved by Commissioner Khadija Abdul Rahman, seconded by Commissioner Bridget Thorne. Vote: approved, 6 yeas, 1 nay.
- Adoption of the consent agenda (as amended): approved, 5 yeas, 0 nays.
- Midyear budget review presented (informational); staff projected $930M revenue at 8.87 and $1.00B at 9.87; expenditure underrun ~ $54M (informational action: no vote required to present).
- Childcare pilot benefit program (pilot to reimburse up to $500/month for up to 100 eligible County employees; special-needs exception added to 10-mile radius): approved unanimously; staff to implement an application window and lottery if necessary.
- Authorization to increase spending authority for RiskConnect software (risk management) by $25,000: approved unanimously.
- Public use rate for county EV charging stations: approved unanimously.
- Cooperative purchase for CGI AMS cloud upgrade testing resources (IT) up to $450,000: approved 6–0.
- Services tied to Lead and Copper Rule Revision (public works) up to $1,451,000: approved unanimously.
- Atlanta–Fulton Water Resources Commission contract correction: approved unanimously.
- Guaranteed maximum price for new pump station and main pump lines serving South Fulton (construction) up to $20,332,906: approved unanimously.
- Intergovernmental agreements for water-main relocations with Roswell and Milton (specific amounts noted on agenda): approved unanimously.
- Resolution adopting the 2045 comprehensive plan for unincorporated Fulton County: approved unanimously.
- Ordinance amending county code decorum fines: approved (vote: 5 yeas, 1 nay); commissioners debated proportionality and recent first use of the penalty.

Executive-session and settlement actions (summary of formal votes recorded after executive session)
- Authorization to retain outside counsel/representation for matters listed in executive session items 1–3: approved (vote reported as 5 yeas, 0 nays).
- Settlement authority for Purdue Pharma opioid settlement (item 5): approved (5–0).
- Additional settlement authorities (items 6 and 7): approved (5–0 for each).
- Contract with The Walls Group for recruitment services, not to exceed $788,000 through 12/31/2025: approved (5–0).
- Employment contract with Richard Anderson, County Manager, four-year term at an annual salary of $371,000: approved (5–0).

Failed and notable non-adopted items
- Resolution urging the release of hostages and calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Israel and Gaza: motion failed (vote reported as: 3 yeas, 2 abstentions).

What to expect next
Staff will return with additional budget soundings tied to jail consent-decree compliance and other identified pressures; commissioners indicated interest in a more multi-year financial planning framework to model large capital and operational needs. The county also signaled it will explore use of outside counsel for high-value commercial assessment appeals — a topic the board agreed to consider further (planned for follow-up in executive session).

Closing note
The decision to hold the millage at 8.87 this year ended the immediate debate, but commissioners and staff emphasized that several multi-year liabilities remain. Residents who addressed the board during public comment said they would monitor future budget work closely and raise the issue again in the 2026 budget cycle.

","The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to set the 2025 general fund millage rate at 8.87 mills after a long public comment period in which hundreds of residents urged the board not to increase property taxes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":44,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":50,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6700095,"Fulton County sets 2025 general‑fund millage at 8.87 after hours of public comment; commissioners debate jail consent decree costs",13545,16379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550416-7d04f48804bf130c93747c1171b47cb0&start=2834&end=16379","/articles/6700095/Fulton-County/Georgia/Fulton-County-sets-2025-generalfund-millage-at-887-after-hours-of-public-comment-commissioners-debate-jail-consent-decree-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6700095-8edb8c9ce779d8daf647c1a497838cbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604750&Signature=X0q-YajoPWXyG9k3Hr6uvTEAXZvO-rkbr-xiFe85CAZenT3BI5MbVjHF1y8wQMcMIeW8LHA13o1wJmPuP2w0BuzQ2EqxSQulEMupB-nq0n8R3Zu-Oj1~UXL~a~BuoHK83QWEIMad49LfNVyv57rpq1Y4-CmPNpaMj6drqsqpJRvYqD1Z8I44fxpPWfz-K~9kF3RU6HqiUXywscC8VE8b8k36tZ9ruBwLTIYxr1b5peAnODNVzc0MEHo0ITcn0CJHr6LzbmFbyfB2svrLe1e5L3OHdJRlkxCOjngUP73uyetfQIHwgmuUwcDZAKyuNaXFCzGWNI0HZBtUsZz9Y1RjHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fulton County commissioners voted 6–1 on Aug. 6 to set the 2025 general‑fund millage at 8.87 mills, rejecting a proposal that county staff and some commissioners had earlier allowed to be advertised at a higher ceiling. The vote came after more than three hours of in‑person public comment and a lengthy midyear budget briefing by county finance staff.

Why it matters: The millage decision determines the county portion of property tax bills for thousands of homeowners and renters. The discussion also surfaced a broader budgeting question: county financial staff told the commission the midyear review projects roughly $69 million more available this year than assumed when the budget was adopted, but commissioners said the county faces uncertain, multiyear obligations including a federal consent decree tied to jail conditions.

Public comments and pressure

Dozens of residents, municipal officials and advocacy groups urged commissioners not to raise property taxes this year. State Rep. Deborah Silcox said the advertised 12.49% effective increase “will disproportionately affect senior citizens and those that are disadvantaged in our community.” Roswell Council member Lee Hills warned the hike would add “roughly $300 average per household” for Roswell residents and said rising local tax bills were already driving people and businesses to lower‑tax counties.

Several speakers described personal hardship. Maria Gaudio told commissioners, “Personally, my property taxes have doubled in the last two years.” Matt Ronzak, a Fulton County resident, said, “The public has said loud and clear, they do not support this,” and asked the board to roll back the rate.

Midyear budget review: numbers and tradeoffs

County finance staff presented a midyear review showing the general‑fund revenue and expenditure picture under two millage scenarios. At the currently adopted rate of 8.87 mills, staff projected roughly $930 million in total revenue and about $936 million in projected spending for 2025, producing an operating underrun relative to the adopted budget that staff summarized as about $69 million of net positive variance from the January assumptions (approximately $15 million in better revenues and a roughly $54 million underrun on expenditures). That projection would leave an estimated year‑end general‑fund balance near $234 million (above the board policy target of $165 million).

Using the advertised, higher rate of 9.87 mills, staff projected roughly $1.0 billion in revenue and the same projected expenditures; that scenario would increase the projected year‑end fund balance to about $313 million.

Sharon Whitmore, the county chief financial officer, cautioned the figures were projections and that actual year‑end results depend on several variables the county still cannot fully quantify, including taxpayer appeals, collection rates and the pace of departmental hiring that affects personnel savings.

Consent decree, hospitals and long‑range planning

The largest recurring theme among commissioners during deliberations was the county’s legal and service obligations beyond a single fiscal year. Commissioners said they were balancing near‑term relief for residents against long‑term obligations that could require additional resources.

Commissioner Moe Ivory framed the question as a present crisis: “We are in the middle of a crisis, not a future one,” he said, citing a federal consent decree on jail conditions and the county’s need to respond. Ivory said he believed additional resources would be required to comply with court‑ordered fixes and to address health‑care gaps created by hospital closures.

Several commissioners pushed back on the timing and the budgeting process. Commissioner Khadija Abdul Rahman said she would not support increasing the rate without clearer, documented needs and expressed concern about accountability for spending. Commissioner Sharon Barrett, while acknowledging the consent decree, said the board had lacked full information in June and that the midyear review provided clearer numbers.

Action taken and related approvals

- The board adopted the general‑fund millage at 8.87 mills (motion to set 8.87; vote 6 yeas, 1 nay). Commissioners recorded the vote publicly at the Aug. 6 meeting.
- The board also approved several administrative and budget items on the agenda, including amendments to the midyear budget soundings and a budget soundings item to increase spending authority for the county’s risk management software maintenance by $25,000.
- The board unanimously approved a childcare pilot benefits package for county employees and amended the pilot to waive the program’s 10‑mile radius limitation for eligible dependents with documented special needs.

Executive‑session outcomes (summary)

After a closed session, the commission announced public actions taken under authority delegated in executive session, including approvals related to litigation and personnel:
- Approval of a request for representation on specified matters (vote 5–0).
- Approval of settlement authority for a Purdue Pharma opioid‑related settlement (vote 5–0).
- Multiple settlement‑authority approvals and contract approvals reported out of executive session passed by recorded votes (each reported 5–0); these included a recruitment‑services contract and the county manager employment contract described below.

Process and next steps

The vote to set the millage completed the county’s statutory millage adoption for 2025. Commissioners and staff noted outstanding issues that will continue to affect future budgets, including final costs associated with the jail consent decree, personnel and health‑plan projections for 2026, and the county’s capital‑planning choices. Several commissioners urged development of a multiyear budget plan so the board and public can see how present choices affect future tax levels.

Ending note

The board’s decision preserves the county’s current general‑fund share of tax bills for 2025. Commissioners noted that the choice does not eliminate future fiscal pressure: several members said they expect the county will need to revisit the revenue picture as the consent‑decree requirements and other multiyear obligations become clearer.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt 2025 general‑fund millage: set general‑fund millage at 8.87 mills. Motion: set 8.87 mills. Vote: 6 yeas, 1 nay.
- Childcare pilot program benefits and amendment: approved employee reimbursement pilot (up to $500/month for qualifying employees; budget $300,000 for July–Dec 2025) and amended to waive the 10‑mile radius for special‑needs dependents. Vote: unanimous.
- Midyear budget soundings: approved an increase in spending authority for risk‑management software maintenance (+$25,000). Vote: unanimous.
- Executive‑session outcomes (reported): authorization to represent the county in specified matters (vote 5–0); grant settlement authority for Purdue Pharma opioid settlement (vote 5–0); approved recruitment‑services contract not to exceed $788,000 (vote 5–0); approved employment contract for county manager Richard Anderson (four‑year term, $371,000 annual salary) (vote 5–0). These items were approved after closed‑session review and reported out at the meeting.

What I’m watching

- The final, itemized cost estimates from the independent monitor and sheriff for consent‑decree compliance (staff said partial‑year costs may be lower than full‑year figures but the total multiyear cost is not yet finalized).
- Any formal appeals filed with the tax‑assessment office that would reduce 2025 collection compared with the midyear projection.
- Follow‑up budget soundings or special sessions to convert projected underruns into targeted departmental funding or reserves.

(See “Votes at a glance” for a concise list of motions and vote counts reported at the meeting.)","Fulton County commissioners voted 6–1 on Aug. 6 to set the 2025 general‑fund millage at 8.87 mills after hours of public comment opposing a proposed increase and a midyear budget review that showed roughly $69 million in better‑than‑expected results this year.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6703132,"After repeated public complaints about ‘‘trophy’’ appraisals, commissioners consider outside counsel for commercial assessment appeals",459,4101000,4560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550416-7d04f48804bf130c93747c1171b47cb0&start=4101&end=4560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550416-7d04f48804bf130c93747c1171b47cb0/thumbnail_4101000.jpg","/articles/6703132/Fulton-County/Georgia/After-repeated-public-complaints-about-trophy-appraisals-commissioners-consider-outside-counsel-for-commercial-assessment-appeals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6703132-5c3df487338de57e954617d3d3a8ee39/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604750&Signature=OWwtdeHwpUWzY4-XJdMfwv0Up2jvkLuB1MXAynsphGPP9s3oM2Ecc9IPn1gKW9b7wrrHmyLYyuwbBjCO43LCcrFbsWMAA~Qa35eDHtRHyG4TBP7ghJTPLR-d2QwHNNLzRBXnpOv73mmSazCRWp0NRbFiSG-D50wSP5e9fLy2KAdaaBjIYiwj5fNKdRam3R-6WpbT3E1MMi1-M3WS0kT6cKInmEUWrsC7tvRS-7fXTKDOn358ZXOwgmWD~eQcXrivX-45U1prsFMdSjxRb6bxZE5rCYTJ-xHWdCFmtG8ttTuBGUPFRbuFkA~l4BV8cdm9z2xG1QbRk8EXvSNOWC5JEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Fulton County residents told commissioners on Wednesday that commercial property assessments are materially under‑taxed and urged the county to change how it defends valuations in court.

Several public speakers cited recent high‑value transactions and argued that the county’s assessed values do not reflect sales prices or market evidence. \"11 80 Peachtree sold for $472,000,000, and yet it was appraised at 187,000,000,\" said Chris Roden, a Southeast Atlanta resident who presented screenshots and press releases he said show large discrepancies between reported sales and assessed values.

Speakers pressed the board to hire outside counsel with commercial appraisal expertise and to equip the assessor’s office with specialists for complex asset classes such as data centers, hotels and high‑end office towers. \"You have to make a change in the appraiser staff, so that you have people who are good at trophy appraisals,\" a public speaker told the board, and urged a combination of in‑house capacity and outside counsel to pursue lost revenues.

Board response and next steps
Chairman Rob Pitts and several commissioners said they had heard the message. The board discussed directing the county attorney to retain outside counsel for commercial property assessment appeals, but commissioners also noted that procurement and legal strategy raise confidentiality and litigation‑sensitivity issues. The county attorney said the office \"will execute the will of the board on this topic\" and recommended handling specifics through an executive session or a targeted special meeting to discuss scope and budget.

The board agreed to put the topic on the agenda for a special executive session the following week to consider engagement terms and whether the county attorney should pursue retained counsel immediately.

Why it matters
Commercial assessments can represent large untapped tax bases; several speakers estimated that correcting misassessments could generate millions in annual revenue for the county and for overlapping taxing authorities. Commissioners said the issue touches assessor processes, litigation strategy and potential staffing and contracting costs, and they asked for a short, formal proposal outlining legal, appraisal and budget implications before retaining outside counsel.

","Multiple public speakers urged Fulton County commissioners to pursue outside legal and appraisal expertise after alleged large gaps between commercial sales and assessed values — speakers cited specific buildings and data centers. Commissioners directed county attorney to return with options; a formal decision was deferred to a follow‑up meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Fulton County keeps millage rate at 8.87 after hours of public comment; commissioners hear midyear budget review and consent‑decree costs

Fulton County sets 2025 general fund millage at 8.87 after hours of public opposition

Fulton County sets 2025 general‑fund millage at 8.87 after hours of public comment; commissioners debate jail consent decree costs

After repeated public complaints about ‘‘trophy’’ appraisals, commissioners consider outside counsel for commercial assessment appeals