Fulton County commissioners set proposed millage ceiling at 9.87 mills after heated debate

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 4–3 on June 18 to advertise a proposed 2025 general‑fund millage ceiling of 9.87 mills, setting a higher limit than the county finance staff recommended and triggering required public hearings before a final vote on Aug. 6.

County Chief Financial Officer staff told commissioners the recommended rate of 8.87 mills was calculated to match the revenue assumptions in the adopted 2025 budget. The CFO’s analysis used the digest numbers the county received, estimated $38,000,000 in appeals that would not be billed, and showed that one-tenth of a mill in Fulton County is worth about $7,900,000. The CFO said keeping the 8.87 figure would “maintain our program expenditures for fiscal year 2025,” while the statutory rollback rate (8.774) would generate roughly $7.3 million less than the budgeted amount.

Commissioners who opposed the staff recommendation said the county needs more cushion to cover uncertain costs tied to the U.S. Justice Department consent order and other emerging needs. Commissioner Mo Ivory proposed advertising the higher ceiling, calling for “a cushion” so the board can restore funding to veterans, arts and youth programs if needed. Ivory said, “I would like to put a motion forward to raise the millage rate to 9.87, which would bring in an additional $7,890,000.” Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. and Commissioner Khadijah Abdul Rahman also pressed for extra capacity in the budget to address service gaps, while other commissioners urged fiscal restraint and emphasized the impact on taxpayers.

The board voted to advertise 9.87 mills as the ceiling. The county’s CFO explained the mechanics: because the advertised rate exceeds the statutory rollback rate, state law requires the county to advertise a property tax increase and hold three public hearings (two on July 9 and a final hearing in August). The CFO also noted that because the 8.87 rate had been certified earlier in the year as an estimated rollback under House Bill 581, the county would not be required to include the “property tax increase” language on tax bills if it advertised 8.87; that protection would not apply if the board ultimately adopted a higher final rate.

Commissioners who supported the higher ceiling cited multiple uncertainties: the final scope and cost of consent‑order compliance, possible federal funding changes that could shift responsibilities to the county, and service needs in senior, behavioral‑health and justice systems. Commissioner Arrington said keeping the 2025 program baseline “is completely unacceptable for me,” citing cuts to veterans, youth jobs and arts funding in the current budget.

Opponents warned that raising the ceiling would further increase property tax bills for residents whose assessments have already risen. Commissioner Bridget Thorne and Vice Chair Bob Ellis emphasized that the county’s year‑to‑date spending and reserves do not yet show a shortfall that would force an immediate increase. Ellis moved to advertise the CFO’s recommendation of 8.87 mills earlier in the meeting before the substitute motions.

What happens next: the board’s advertisement of 9.87 mills is the legal ceiling the county will publish. The CFO said one mill in Fulton County is about $78,900,000; the recommended 8.87 rate, when run through the county model, produced an estimated $699.7 million in current‑year property tax revenue and roughly a $700,000 margin relative to the county’s budget assumptions. The board must hold the advertised hearings and may adopt any final millage at or below the 9.87 ceiling at its Aug. 6 meeting.

The vote to advertise 9.87 mills passed 4 yeas, 3 nays.

Ending: The board’s decision to set a higher advertised ceiling gives commissioners more optionality at the mid‑year review but does not itself increase taxpayers’ 2025 bills. Staff said the board will consider mid‑year budget updates in August that could inform a lower final millage if the county’s revenue and expense trends are more favorable than some commissioners warned.