Council precertifies estimated city and school millage rates; staff stresses this is not final adoption

A finance staff member told the council the item before them was a precertification, not the final adoption of a millage rate, and said the precertified figures give the county an estimate to include on tax-assessment notices. “This is not the adoption of the millage rate,” the finance staff member said, explaining the county requires an estimated rate to generate preliminary assessment notices.

Council members asked for and received clarifications about scope and format. One council member emphasized the precertified number covers the city general fund maintenance and operations portion only and does not include cemetery or bond levies. The finance staff member confirmed the city general-fund estimate would remain at 2.788 mills and said that Marietta City Schools’ operations-and-maintenance rate is estimated at 17.97.

A council member moved to approve an estimated general-fund millage of 2.788 for fiscal 2027 to be provided to the Cobb County tax assessor; another motion approved an estimated O&M millage of 17.97 for Marietta City Schools. Both motions passed on recorded committee/council votes (motions carried 7–0).

Why it matters: Precertifying an estimated millage rate gives residents an early indication on county assessment notices of the city’s place in the overall tax picture; it is not the final levy the council will adopt later in the budget cycle. Council members requested staff provide full, itemized totals (including bonds and other levies) before the final millage vote so residents can see the complete expected bill.

What’s next: Staff said final millage adoption will follow as part of the budget process; council members asked for updated, consolidated figures before that final vote.