Columbia County committee certifies estimated rollback rate for tax notices

Columbia County committee members voted to certify an estimated rollback rate to be included on the annual notice of assessment so the tax assessor can prepare notices for mailing.

The county’s staff presenter, Mister Johnson, told the committee the action would allow the tax assessor to include an estimated rollback rate on the notices and that the estimate must be provided to the Tax Commissioner at least 15 days before the notices’ postmark. “If the committee is okay with moving forward with the estimated rollback rate, then we would put that on the notice,” Johnson said.

The item arises from recent state legislation the presenter cited by bill number. Johnson said House Bill 581 created an “estimated rollback rate” process intended to give counties more flexibility in previewing a year’s millage rate to property owners; he also referenced House Bill 92 as part of the changing statutory environment. He repeatedly cautioned the number can change: “It can change. It can go up or down. It does not have to be perfect, but we do have to do this,” he said.

Johnson told the committee the staff’s current estimate is 4.36 mills compared with the county’s current rate of 4.568 mills. He described that difference as “a little less than a quarter mil rollback to go all the way to the rollback rate.” The presenter emphasized that certifying the estimate is not the same as setting the millage: “You’re approving an estimate of the rollback rate. That’s all you’re doing today. We will still discuss the millage at a later date.”

Committee members moved the item to the consent agenda for approval; the presenter said he would instruct the tax assessor to be ready to mail notices on the statutory schedule unless other commissioners asked to pull the item. Johnson said staff would supply the committee with the final materials prior to the next meeting.

The presenter and commissioners discussed timing and the need for additional guidance from state partners and associations; Johnson said staff were consulting with entities including ACCG and the Georgia Municipal Association on interpretations of the new law. He also noted the digest was “pretty much ready to go.”

The committee’s action certifies only the estimate to appear on the assessment notices; the actual millage rate will be set at a later public meeting in accordance with state law.