Decatur commission adopts tentative millage ordinances amid 7.9% digest growth

The Decatur City Commission on May 19 voted to adopt tentative millage ordinances needed for the city's FY26 budget process, after staff framed the action under Georgia's taxpayer bill of rights requirements.

City staff said the preliminary 2025 tax digest was up about 7.9% from 2024. Andrea Arnold, city manager, told the commission that the legally required rollback calculation produced a rollback rate lower than staff's recommended maintenance and operations rate, which requires the city to advertise a property tax increase (about 6.5% on the M&O portion) prior to final adoption.

The commission approved three ordinances by voice vote: O‑25‑AA (maintenance & operations at 10.8 mills), O‑25‑BB (bond fund at 1.82 mills) and O‑25‑CC (Downtown Development Authority fund at 0.35 mills). The roll call in the meeting record shows Commissioners Dusenberry and Walsh, Mayor Pro Tem Powers and the chair voting "Aye." The board scheduled public hearings for June 2 and June 16 as required by state law.

City staff said tentatively adopting the millage is a first procedural step; the final millage and budget will be set after hearings and any digest revisions. Commissioners discussed digest composition and asked for a deeper work session dive into how new commercial values and exemptions affected the numbers.

Votes at a glance

- O‑25‑AA (M&O 10.8 mills): Adopted (Recorded ayes: Commissioner Dusenberry, Commissioner Walsh, Mayor Pro Tem Powers, Chair)

- O‑25‑BB (Bond 1.82 mills): Adopted (Recorded ayes: Commissioner Dusenberry, Commissioner Walsh, Mayor Pro Tem Powers, Chair)

- O‑25‑CC (DDA 0.35 mills): Adopted (Recorded ayes: Commissioner Dusenberry, Commissioner Walsh, Mayor Pro Tem Powers, Chair)

Next steps: staff will publish required TRS (truth‑in‑taxation) notices, hold public hearings and return with any adjustments at the June 16 meeting.