Chamblee adopts 7.25 millage rate after third public hearing

The Chamblee City Council on June 16 voted unanimously to adopt a 7.25 millage rate for 2026 following the third and final public hearing required by state law. Council moved and seconded the millage-rate resolution and, after brief discussion about constituent input, approved the rate.

City staff explained the legal and fiscal context for the change during the hearing. “Under Georgia law, we have to adopt our millage rate by July 1,” a staff presenter said, adding that because the council is not adopting the rollback rate it must hold three public hearings. Staff said the proposed 7.25 mills is the city’s first millage-rate adjustment in over seven years and that the rollback rate would have been 5.872 mills. The presenter gave an example calculation for typical residential property: “The average fair market value for a residential property in Chamblee is $525,000… the true impact is $213.94 which is roughly $18 per month for the average taxpayer,” after accounting for the $50,000 homestead exemption.

Councilmembers framed the hearing as an opportunity for public input rather than a foregone conclusion. One member noted that public hearings allow residents to weigh in on whether to raise, lower, or maintain rates, and another said constituent feedback about preserving services influenced their position. The motion carried unanimously. The council also adopted related special-service-district and general-obligation bond millage rates during the same meeting.