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Residents oppose higher property bills at Avondale Estates millage-rate hearing; board schedules two more public sessions
Summary
At a June 23 public hearing in Avondale Estates, multiple residents urged the Board of Mayor and Commissioners not to raise property taxes, citing fixed incomes and disputed city spending; the board clarified the millage rate itself has not increased and set two more hearings before a final vote.
AVONDALE ESTATES, Ga. — Residents packed the June 23 special-call public hearing on the city’s millage rate and urged the Avondale Estates Board of Mayor and Commissioners to avoid raising property-tax bills.
"We both ran on a platform of affordability and keeping property taxes low," said Emily Fish, who gave her address to the record and told the board she was "very against this," criticizing what she described as a $100,000 city logo expense and urging the city to consider alternatives such as stepped-up code enforcement and fines for unpermitted work.
Another resident, Neil D. Cruz, said the measure would hit neighbors on fixed incomes hardest and cited an "estimated about 10.12%" rise in bills he called "well above inflation," adding that if the city needs money residents deserve to know what the funds would pay for.
Dustin Dakota asked officials to explain the proposal in plain language, saying the packet materials were not aimed at the average homeowner and that residents need help understanding the longer-term, cumulative impact of millage and reassessments.
A commissioner for the board responded that the millage rate itself "has not gone up," noting the city has lowered its millage several times in the past decade and that tax bills can rise when home values increase. "If the millage rate stays the same and your house value goes up, your taxes will go up," the commissioner said, urging residents that there are three variables at play: the digest (assessed values), the budget the board adopts, and the millage the board applies to that budget.
Online commenter Judy Labrito urged the board to consider Tucker’s recent action — she said that city approved a 2.9% figure — and asked whether Avondale Estates might do the same. Board members said direct comparisons are difficult because nearby cities and towns differ in size, service levels and revenue sources; for example, they noted Tucker buys some services from DeKalb County and has a broader commercial tax base.
Board members and speakers repeatedly emphasized the effect of reassessments and new construction on the city’s "digest," with one official saying Avondale Estates’ digest has grown nearly 20% when including new construction and reassessments.
The board framed the hearing as the first of three required public hearings on the millage. Officials said another public hearing is scheduled for June 24 at 5:30 p.m., a third hearing for June 30 at 6 p.m., and that the final vote on the millage will follow the June 30 hearing. No formal vote on the millage was taken at the June 23 meeting; the meeting opened for public comment and then adjourned after a motion.
The meeting procedures limited public comment to three minutes per speaker and a 45-minute total public-comment period. The board thanked attendees before adjourning; Commissioner Lina moved to adjourn and Commissioner Graham seconded.
What’s next: the board will continue discussion at the June 24 and June 30 hearings, after which it has said it will vote on the millage rate. The city manager is scheduled to provide additional budget detail at the next session.
