Rockdale County commissioners set 2025 millage at 18.284 and apply 50.29% host credit

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners voted to set the 2025 millage rate at the rollback rate of 18.284 and to set the 2025 host percentage at 50.29%, adopting the resolution as presented. Commissioner Williams moved the resolution and an unidentified commissioner seconded it; the chair called the vote and declared the motion carried.

Interim Finance Director Sue Sanders told the board the proposed millage "is 18.284, which is a millage reduction," and said that rate would generate $91,030,520 in property-tax revenue and $38,147,777 in non-property revenue for a total 2025 estimated revenue of $129,178,297. Sanders said the rollback rate is the rate "needed to generate the same amount of total revenue from property taxes as the previous year." She also explained that for homesteaded properties with the host exemption, roughly 78% of the tax bill goes to the school system and about 22% goes to the county for maintenance and operations.

During discussion, Sanders explained budget timing: the board sets millage for the 2025 tax year but collects property taxes in the fall and must budget across collection cycles. She told the board the last budget base was $123,506,931, noted a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment funded from contingency this year, and cited director requests totaling about $139 million (with roughly $3.1 million more requested for personnel). Sanders also referenced House Bill 85 as affecting judicial costs next year.

Public comment included Nick Duva, who said he views taxes "as an investment in our community" and asked the county to consider a joint meeting with the school system so residents could better understand the combined county and school millage impacts. The chair introduced Tax Commissioner Tisa Washington, Interim Finance Director Sue Sanders and Tax Assessor Will Barclay during the meeting.

Board members stressed the choice to take the rollback rate as a taxpayer savings measure while flagging remaining budget pressures. Commissioners encouraged residents to "shop the Rock" to grow local sales-tax receipts that fund the host credit; staff said returning 100% of host collections back to taxpayers (rather than using up to 20% for capital) is the board's recommendation and has been in effect for multiple years.

Sanders said because the board adopted the rollback rate, no additional public hearings were required; she said the tax commissioner's office will forward the adopted levy to the state and the county's part of the process is complete. The meeting concluded with the chair adjourning the session.