Rockdale County adopts 2025 millage rollback at 18.284; host sales-tax credit set at 50.29%

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners voted to set the 2025 millage rate at the rollback level of 18.284 and to allocate 50.29% of host (sales-tax credit) collections toward homeowners' maintenance-and-operations bills, interim finance director Sue Sanders said during a called meeting.

"The proposed millage for 2025 is 18.284, which is a millage reduction," Sanders said as she explained the county's budget and revenue projections. Sanders told the board the proposed rate would produce property-tax revenue of $91,030,520 and, combined with non-property revenues of $38,147,777, yield total 2025 revenues of about $129,178,297.

Sanders laid out how the general fund is allocated: 42% to public safety (including the sheriff's office and fire rescue), 37% to general government functions, 10% to court services, 7% to recreation and 4% to transportation. For homesteaded properties that also receive the host exemption, she said the county receives roughly 22% of the typical property-tax dollar for county maintenance and operations; about 78% goes to the school system for maintenance and operations.

Using the county's sample calculations, Sanders said a $100,000 home with homestead and host exemptions would owe about $227.17 in property taxes for 2025 (estimated $731.36 without exemptions). For a $350,000 home she cited an estimated $1,136.12 after exemptions (about $2,559.76 without exemptions).

Resident Nick Duva, during public comment, urged clearer joint presentations with the school system so residents can see the combined tax impact and described property taxes as "an investment in our community." Duva also said meeting accessibility is important for residents with hearing impairments.

Before the vote, commissioners discussed budget pressures, including a limited contingency, recent personnel and pay-plan requests and anticipated costs tied to House Bill 85 for judges. One commissioner said the rollback preserves taxpayer savings while acknowledging the board still faces several million dollars in new funding requests from departments and courts.

A commissioner moved "to set the millage rate at 18.284, and to set the 2025 host percentage at 50.29% and to adopt the resolution as presented." A second was given, the chair called for a voice vote, and the chair declared, "The motion carries."

Sanders told the board that because the board adopted the rollback rate, the county was not required to hold additional public hearings; she said the tax commissioner's office will receive the adopted millage for state processing. The meeting adjourned after brief closing remarks urging residents to "shop The Rock" so local sales-tax receipts help county services.

What happens next: county staff will forward the adopted millage and host percentage to the tax commissioner's office for submission to the state; no further local hearings are required because the board set the rollback rate.