What Milton property owners should know about Fulton County assessment notices

A city staff member told a Milton resident that the June mailing from Fulton County is an assessment notice showing the county's assessed fair market value, not a tax bill. The staff member said final tax bills are issued in the fall after the Board of Commissioners, the Board of Education and Milton City Council adopt millage rates used to calculate taxes owed to each jurisdiction.

The distinction matters because the assessment notice uses placeholder information and does not reflect the final taxes a property owner will pay. "That isn't a tax bill. It's an assessment notice from Fulton County," the city staff member said. The staff member added, "Around June, Fulton County mails out the notices to property owners showing the assessed value of their property. The actual tax bills come out in the fall after the board of commissioners, the board of education, and Milton City Council each adopt a millage rate. The adopted millage rates are used to calculate taxes owed to each jurisdiction. That determines what shows up on your tax bills."

Milton property owners should expect separate bills: a Fulton County bill that includes county and school taxes and a City of Milton bill for city taxes. The staff member explained how county assessors determine fair market value: "They use information including the location of your property, the square footage, upgrades, and nearby home sales to calculate the fair market value."

The notice can show a higher assessed value than last year without meaning your tax bill will increase by the same percentage. "Not necessarily," the staff member said in response to a resident who noted a 30% assessed increase. "The final adopted millage rate will impact the taxes you pay, so will your homestead exemptions. For example, the floating homestead exemption, which caps taxable value growth at no more than 3% annually, and the full value exemption will not show up on your notice." The staff member also said Fulton County uses last year's millage rate as a placeholder on the notice and that Fulton County does not maintain exemption data for properties in Milton, so exemption reductions will not appear on the assessment notice.

If a property owner disagrees with the assessed fair market value, the notice lists the assessor's name and phone number and explains the appeal process. "You have the right to appeal," the staff member said, adding that "the deadline to appeal is 45 days from when the assessment notices are issued. Information on how to appeal is on the notice." The staff member also noted that floating homestead limits taxable value growth to no more than 3% annually whether or not an owner files an appeal.

For homeowners seeking next steps, the staff member recommended reviewing the assessment notice, checking for exemption information when tax bills arrive in the fall, and contacting the assessor if there are questions about value or the appeal process.

Watch for the fall tax bills after local millage rates are adopted to see final amounts owed and any applicable exemptions.