Macon-Bibb Commission approves property tax increase while keeping millage rate unchanged

Georgia law classifies the approved rate as a 9.28% property tax increase because it exceeds the rollback rate.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Macon-Bibb County Commission approved a 9.28% property tax increase Wednesday while keeping the millage rate unchanged at 9.575 mills.

The approved rate is 0.813 mills above the state-calculated rollback rate of 8.762 mills. Georgia law classifies the difference as a property tax increase, even though the millage rate remains the same as last year.

The rollback rate is designed to keep property tax revenue level as the tax digest grows.

What it could mean for property owners

Keeping the millage rate unchanged does not mean every property owner will receive the same bill. An individual bill depends on the property’s taxable assessed value and exemptions.

During a September 1 hearing, Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller said owners whose home values remained the same would receive the same bill. He said bills could decrease if a home’s value went down or increase if its value went up, depending on exemptions.

“The proposal is to keep that millage rate exactly the same,” Miller said.

Miller also said homeowners represent about 7% of the county’s overall $221 million budget.

Approval follows four public hearings

Because the proposed rate exceeded the rollback rate, the county held four public hearings before the final vote.

The county initially held three advertised hearings on August 28 and September 1. It later scheduled another hearing Wednesday morning before commissioners considered final adoption.

Two residents spoke against the proposal during the August 28 hearing. They expressed concern about how higher expenses could affect residents, particularly renters in low-income neighborhoods.

Both residents said they feared property owners could pass higher costs along to tenants. One also raised concerns about the proposal coming alongside higher water rates and the Bibb County School Board’s separate millage proposal.

One person spoke during both September 1 hearings. He supported the proposed rate and said he believed county officials were acting responsibly.

County points to public safety spending

Commissioners approved the fiscal year 2027 budget in June based on the assumption that the millage rate would remain at 9.575 mills. The millage process determines the property tax rate used to fund that budget.

Miller said maintaining the rate would help the county continue funding public safety. He said 57% of the county’s budget is related to public safety.

The county’s presentation lists about $125.8 million in fiscal year 2027 public safety spending, an increase of about $3.56 million from the current fiscal year.

The sheriff’s office budget increases by about $3.36 million to $61.49 million. The fire department budget increases by about $312,000 to $34.43 million.

Public safety spending also includes the Emergency Management Agency, code enforcement, courts and the coroner.

The millage ordinance projects the county will collect about $67.05 million in property taxes.

During the August 28 hearing, Miller said the county’s property tax levy barely covers the sheriff’s office budget.

“You can see that we’re very public safety minded and heavy on our budget, and if you add the fire department to that, you’re over $100 million,” Miller said.

Other county figures show one-year funding increases of about $447,000 for information technology and $266,000 for recreation. The beautification budget decreases by about $392,000 from the previous fiscal year.

Millage rate remains below fiscal year 2021

The county’s presentation shows the millage rate fell from 20.331 mills in fiscal year 2021 to 9.575 mills in fiscal year 2026.

The approved fiscal year 2027 rate remains at 9.575 mills. That is more than 50% below the fiscal year 2021 rate.

However, the millage rate alone does not show how individual tax bills have changed. Property assessments and exemptions also affect what owners pay.

County budget documents, presentations, and meeting videos are available at maconbibb.us/fy27budget.