Coweta commissioners hold second millage-rate hearing; staff presents draft FY2026 budget and tax examples

Coweta County officials held the second of three public hearings on Aug. 19, 2025, on a proposed 2025 millage rate after county staff presented the draft FY2026 budget and the factors driving the proposed change. Chairman called the hearing to order and county staff led a slide presentation explaining state law changes, digest growth and how proposed rates translate into dollars for homeowners.

County staff member Mister Fouts said the county is required to hold three public hearings if a proposed millage rate exceeds the states rollback rate and walked commissioners and the public through the tax digest and millage calculations. He told the board the net digest rose from just over $10.0 billion in 2024 to about $10.4 billion in 2025, roughly $450 million in growth, and that the countys new growth remains predominantly residential (about 69% of the digest).

Fouts reviewed changes from the 2024 state legislative session and a Department of Revenue ruling that affect annual notices and exemptions, including House Bill 581 (the floating homestead measure) and HB 92. He said the floating homestead is intended to limit annual increases in assessed value for qualifying residential properties but does not "freeze" property taxes or limit what taxing authorities may set as a…