The City of Smyrna will hold the first of three public hearings on its proposed millage rate Monday July 18 at 7 p.m.
The millage rate will remain steady at 8.99, where it has been during the past 5 year History of Levy, but since the rate will result in an increase in the taxes collected, state law requires that the city advertise it as a tax increase, and hold three public hearings.
For more information see the city’s announcement, reprinted below:
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The City of Smyrna has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 11.70 percent.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held at 2800 King Street SE, Smyrna, Georgia, Smyrna City Hall Council Chambers on July 18, 2022 at 7:00 PM.
Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at 2800 King Street SE, Smyrna, Georgia, Smyrna City Hall Council Chambers on August 1, 2022 at 10:00 AM and 6:45 PM.
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 8.990 mills, an increase of 0.942 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 8.048 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $375,000 is approximately $131.88 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $575,000 is approximately $216.66.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOTICE TO SMYRNA TAXPAYERS: THE CITY OF SMYRNA IS NOT INCREASING TAX RATES
According to Georgia Law, all taxing agencies must advertise a tax increase and hold three public hearings to claim taxes on reassessed properties, even if the millage rate remains unchanged as in the case of Smyrna. The City of Smyrna has tentatively adopted a millage rate equal to last year’s millage rate of 8.99. The millage rate is not being increased in The City of Smyrna. The tax rate will be the same for 2022 as it was in 2021.
The city of Smyrna can use state law as a cover if it likes, but citizens truly understand what is going on.
The impact of the increases will be much greater than anticipated by many people because of the great increase in property values in Cobb, and in Smyrna especially. The increased property values are unrealized gains. They are not money in our pockets. But taxes take money out of them.
Increasing tax coffers during this time of truly damaging inflation, and when homeowners would be hard pressed to purchase the same house they live in now, it is just wrong. There should be a moratorium on tax increases for the next two years. If the city board cared, a moratorium would be seriously considered.
More likely, we’ll be hammered by the tax increases and all we’ll get for our dollars is a few more stop signs and speed “humps”, “bumps”, and “plateaus” around City Hall.