Douglasville holds second public hearing on 2026 millage rate; city staff proposes no M&O increase

Mayor Pro Tem Terry Miller presided over a July 20 public hearing on the proposed 2026 ad valorem millage rate for Douglasville.

Karen Callan, the city’s chief financial officer and assistant city manager, told the council this was the second of three required public hearings. She explained the tax bill is composed of two separate rates: the maintenance and operations (M&O) rate and the bond millage, which pays debt service on outstanding bonds. “For our maintenance and operations we’re proposing no increase this year at 8.749,” Callan said, and she reported the bond millage is decreasing, producing a combined proposed rate of 9.649 — a 4.86% decrease overall compared with the prior year.

Callan provided an example of the effect on a homeowner, saying that for a property with an assessed value of $350,000 there would be a $54.18 decrease tied to the bond-rate reduction if assessed values remain unchanged. She also described digest changes that contributed to the result: about 13% of the digest is new growth, reassessments accounted for roughly 7% growth, and carry-forward makes up the remainder.

Callan said state rules require the city to present the two rates separately and noted the city cannot advertise the decrease in the bond millage within its required notice. She advised residents that appeals of valuations run through the county tax assessor (deadline July 31) and that the tax commissioner handles billing and collection.

The council opened the public hearing and invited comment; no members of the public came forward. Callan said the final adoption hearing is scheduled for a special-called meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2026.

The hearing record indicated: Finance Committee Chair Councilman Chris Watts introduced the item and Callan presented the proposal; the council took no vote on the millage tonight beyond opening the required public hearing.