Perry property owners could see higher tax bills under proposed 2025 millage rate

The tentative increase would set the millage rate at 12.697 mills, with hearings scheduled September 2, 15 and 16 at City Hall.

UPDATE (8/26/25): In a follow-up news release on Tuesday, the City of Perry clarified to news outlets that the millage rate itself is not increasing. City officials say Georgia’s property tax process requires notices of a “tax increase” when reassessments raise the tax digest above the rollback rate. The city also says homeowners who qualify for the new statewide floating homestead exemption (HB 581) will not see an increase in their city property taxes.

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Perry City Council intends to adopt a 2025 millage rate that would raise property taxes by 12.86 percent, according to a news release from the city.

According to the release, the tentative increase would set the millage rate at 12.697 mills, 1.447 mills higher than the rollback rate of 11.250 mills. City officials say the proposed change means a home with a fair market value of $125,000 would see an estimated tax increase of about $72.35, while a non-homestead property valued at $150,000 would see an increase of about $86.82.

Three public hearings are set on the tax increase, all at City Hall (808 Carroll St).

• September 2 – 6 p.m.
• September 15 – 5 p.m.
• September 16 – 6 p.m.

The council will set the final millage rate during its September 16 meeting.

While the city’s notice cites a 12.86 percent increase, the five-year tax history shows the total amount of taxes collected will rise by 15.14 percent compared to last year. The difference comes from how the rollback calculation is made versus the actual year-to-year levy.

The city’s five-year tax history shows steady growth. In 2020, the net maintenance and operations tax digest was about $567 million, producing $7.9 million in taxes. By 2021, the digest rose to $633 million with $8.9 million levied. In 2022, it reached $753 million with $10.5 million collected. The 2023 digest grew to $875 million with $12.2 million levied, and in 2024 it topped $1.01 billion with $12.9 million in taxes. For 2025, the digest climbed to $1.16 billion, which includes $133 million in new value from reassessments, and the proposed levy is $14.8 million.