Commissioners Approved Advertisement of Lower Millage Rate

Blue Ridge, Ga – Commissioners move toward lowering Fannin’s millage rate for another year.

In the August 13, 2019 meeting, Chairman Stan Helton proposed lowering the rate for 2019 and advertising it in the legal organ.

The proposed millage rate for 2019 is 3.938 from 2018’s rate of 4.176 after reviewing the ad valorem tax digest for 2019.

The final decision pends Fannin Board of Education approval of their 2019 rates as well.

Currently, the board of education has to decide on lowering their rate to 10.593. On Aug. 23, the school will decide and approve the intended rate.

On Aug. 27, the county will vote to approve the new millage rate for 2019. In 2018, commissioners decided to drop it from 4.604 mills to 4.176 mills.

The millage rate ensures that the county receives enough in tax revenue to operate from year to year and to roll back the rate, the commissioners and board of education must determine than a decrease will not negatively affect income. Additionally, it affects local property taxes.

For example: In a county with a rate of 25 mills, the property tax on a house worth $100,000 would be $1,000 because the assessed value is 40%. In other words, $25 for every $1,000 of assessed value or $25 multiplied by 40 is $1,000.

Post Two Commissioner Glenn Patterson had no problem with lowering the rate.

“We’re right now the lowest we’ve been in 25 years and with this change, we would continue that trend, said Helton, “Fannin will continue to have the lowest millage rate in the state of Georgia.”