Stonecrest council approves advertisement of 2026 millage rate at 1.257 mills after debate

The Stonecrest City Council voted 3–2 on May 18 to approve advertising a 2026 millage rate ceiling of 1.257 mills, following a presentation by financial adviser Ed Wall and a council debate over whether to advertise a higher rate to preserve flexibility for next year’s budget.

Ed Wall, introduced as the city’s financial advisor, told the council that the advertised millage is a ceiling, not the final rate, and that final approval in June cannot exceed the advertised figure. "This is not the final millage rate," Wall said, adding that "the advertised millage rate is the ceiling." He presented three options prepared from Finance Director Ms. Franklin’s analysis: a rollback rate now calculated at 1.227 mills (levy about $2,880,000); the current rate of 1.257 mills (levy about $2,956,000); and a finance‑director recommended proposed rate of 1.515 mills (levy about $3,563,000). Wall said the budget‑balancing rate estimate was 1.4616 mills (levy about $3,438,000).

Council discussion focused on the tradeoffs. Councilmember George Turner argued for advertising the higher recommended rate so the council would retain the option to lower it later, saying, "I'd rather go with the safe rate, and let's go high, so we can come low." Turner emphasized that a lower advertised ceiling cannot be increased later, while a higher advertised ceiling preserves flexibility. Several councilmembers said they lacked detail from the absent finance director to justify the highest figure.

Councilmember Alicia Washington asked whether the budget‑balancing option was available; Wall said the 1.515 figure reflected preliminary budget projections and would be needed to fulfill the projected property‑tax revenue identified as supporting the budget shortfall. He also explained how the advertisement would be perceived by taxpayers: advertising 1.515 mills instead of the rollback (1.227) would show about a 23.47% increase; advertising 1.257 mills instead of the rollback would read as roughly a 2.4% increase.

Councilmember Terry Fife moved to advertise 1.257 mills as the 2026 ceiling. The motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote by district: District 2, Yay; District 3, Nay; District 4, Yay; District 5, Yay; District 1, Nay. The advertised rate of 1.257 mills will be published May 28; the council may adopt a final, equal-or‑lower rate in June after public hearings.

The council’s next steps are the public hearings required under Georgia’s Truth in Taxation process and a June vote to adopt the final millage rate (not to exceed the advertised ceiling).