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

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. -…