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Newton County sets 9.5 mills as estimated rollback millage for FY27 notices
Summary
By unanimous vote, the board approved a preliminary 9.5 mill estimated rollback rate for assessment notices as required by state law; officials emphasized the figure is an estimate for notices and not the final adopted millage.
The Newton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously March 17 to publish an estimated rollback millage of 9.5 mills on FY27 assessment notices as required under recent state law changes.
Finance Director Britney White explained that House Bill 581 requires local governments to include an estimated rollback millage on assessment notices and recommended 9.5 mills as a conservative, preliminary figure. “This by no means means this will be the final millage rate,” White said, adding that the digest and exemptions remain preliminary and the adopted millage could be lower.
Commissioners discussed public perception and legal messaging around a rollback figure. Several commissioners said the preliminary number can trigger confusion because the law requires a specific statement on tax bills if the rollback option would raise taxes for an individual property. Commissioner Long said the 9.5 mills is a required preliminary filing and that past practice has produced lower final rates, noting that the board in a prior year listed 10 mills and later adopted 8.6.
Why it matters: posting an estimated rollback millage is a legal requirement that can be misread by the public as a final tax increase; commissioners requested clearer public messaging so residents understand the difference between the estimate and the final adopted millage, which will be set later in the budget process.
Next steps: staff will include explanatory language on public materials and proceed with budget work; the board will adopt a final millage later in the statutory process.
