Stonecrest keeps 2026 millage at 1.257 mills; council stresses reassessments drive bill increases

The Stonecrest City Council voted 4–0 on June 22 to set the city's 2026 millage rate at 1.257 mills, a rate the council said it has maintained since 2022.

Finance Director Kesha Franklin told the council the city was not proposing a millage increase but that state law requires an advertised notice because the proposed rate exceeds the calculated rollback rate of 1.227. "The city is proposing to maintain the same millage rate," Franklin said, noting that any change in an individual homeowner's tax bill would be the result of county property reassessments rather than a change in the city millage.

Eric Hawkins, the city's revenue manager, said the advertised 2.44% figure represents the difference between the proposed millage and the rollback rate, not a direct city tax policy change. "Properties whose assessed value remains unchanged would generally experience no change in the city property taxes resulting from the city's millage rate," Hawkins said.

During the public hearing, several residents urged the council to provide more fiscal transparency and completion of an operational audit before approving revenue measures. Community member Dave Marcus asked the city to release settlement agreements tied to recent lawsuits so residents can understand how public funds were used. "We should be told what you've done," Marcus said, pressing for full disclosure of settlements tied to the Metro Green matter.

Other commenters said the city should improve presentations and public materials so taxpayers can clearly see how changes affect their bills. A resident who identified herself as concerned about the presentation quality said slides were difficult to read at the meeting.

After questions from council members clarifying the difference between city‑levied taxes and county reassessments, Councilman George Turner moved to approve the millage resolution; the motion carried 4–0.

The council said the additional revenue from reassessments (not the rate) is expected to add roughly $82,459 in property tax revenue to the digest, and that final budget allocations for any additional funds will be determined during the budget development process.

The resolution formally fixing the 2026 millage rate at 1.257 mills was adopted on a 4–0 vote. The city clerk will publish the adopted rate and the statutorily required documentation following the meeting.