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Rome City Commission opens first of three hearings on 2025 millage; staff recommends keeping rates unchanged
Summary
On July 14 the Rome City Commission opened the first of three required public hearings on the 2025 millage rate. City manager Sammy Rich and finance director Tony Reinhardt recommended maintaining 2024 millage rates while staff noted digest growth would generate modest net new revenue; residents voiced concern about assessment-driven increases.
The Rome City Commission opened the first of three required public hearings on July 14 to consider the city's 2025 millage rate. City manager Sammy Rich told the commission staff recommends keeping the city's millage rates the same as 2024: 7.75 mills for the city operating levy, 1.75 mills for city capital and 16.75 mills for Rome City Schools'maintenance and operation.
"We maintain for 2025 the same rates that we used in 2024," Sammy Rich said, adding that because the tax digest has grown the city will see additional revenue even without a rate increase. Rich said staff used a digest value of about $1.818 billion and a projected 93% collection rate to estimate revenue. He noted that state law requires the city to advertise a tax increase and hold three hearings when revenue increases, and said that under the transitional provisions of House Bill 581 most city residents "will not see an increase in property tax." The transcript did not provide a clear single-dollar estimate in a form the commission read aloud; staff materials referenced at the meeting contain the detailed revenue tables.
Residents pressed city officials for more clarity. Melissa Keefe, who said she lives off Chulio Road, described a recent jump in her home's assessed value and annual tax bill and said she planned to file an appeal with the Floyd County Tax Assessor. "I pay over $7,000 a year," Keefe said, and asked how many owner-occupied homes had increases like hers. Officials repeatedly advised that valuation and assessment questions fall under the county tax assessor's authority and directed residents to that office for statistics and appeals procedures.
Carrie Jones asked about the city's overall budget and revenue mix. Finance director Tony Reinhardt described multiple city funds, said public safety is a major general-fund cost and that the fire budget is about $11 million, and directed residents to the finance department pages on the city website for detailed statements.
The commission closed the first hearing and scheduled special-call hearing No. 2 for 10 a.m. July 24 and the final adoption hearing for July 28. No millage rate adoption occurred July 14; the body will take final action at the adoption hearing after the required notices and hearings are complete.
