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Atlanta proposes slight net cut in total millage, shifts bond levy savings to operations
Summary
City finance staff presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 millage structure that would lower the city's total millage from 11.40 mills to 11.37 mills by reallocating bond-levy savings to the operating levy and keeping or introducing two special service district levies.
Chairman Shook opened the May 28 public hearing by declaring the hearing on the proposed millage rate open and turning the presentation over to the finance department.
Mohammed Bala, the city's chief financial officer, said the meeting was the third and final public hearing on the proposed FY 2026 mill rate. Lawrence Davis Jr., revenue chief for the Office of Revenue, presented the proposed rates and rationale, saying, "The proposal that you see before you tonight represents a modest net decrease from the current total millage rate of 11.40 mills to 11.37 mills for FY 26." Davis said the change "realigns our revenue stream to support our operation and demonstrates our commitment to sound fiscal management."
Davis described the primary mechanism as a reallocation of bond levy savings into the operating levy. He said the proposal reduces the bond levy while increasing the operating levy, with an unspecified levy (referred to in the presentation as the "part levy") remaining at 1 mill. He said, "By adjusting general obligation debt and reallocating the bond levy savings, the city plans to provide tax relief to our residents, lower overall debt, and maintain our high credit ratings." The presentation also proposed keeping the special service district levy for the Atlanta BeltLine Corridor at 2 mills and introducing a 2-mill special service district levy to support the new Atlanta Stitch project.
No members of the public had signed up to speak, and Chairman Shook asked whether any council colleagues had questions; none were raised. The public hearing then concluded and the meeting was adjourned.
This presentation described a proposed structure; the transcript does not record a council vote or formal adoption of these rates during the session. Any final millage adoption, required notifications, or next steps were not specified in the recorded remarks.
