Acworth to hold three public hearings on proposed property tax increase

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The sign in front of Acworth City Hall: Text reading Acworth Georgia 4415 Senator Richard B. Russell Ave, with 1860 (the incorporation date of the city)Acworth City Hall signage (Photo: Cobb County Courier/Larry Felton Johnson)

Posted By: Larry Felton Johnson July 14, 2023

The City of Acworth has announced a proposed tax increase, and has scheduled the three hearings required by state law before voting on the increase. There is no proposed increase in the millage rate, but state law requires that any increase in total revenues s

The hearings will be held on Monday July 17 2023 at 6:30 p.m., and two hearings on July 25, at 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.  All three hearings will be held in the Council Chamber at 4415 Center Street, Acworth, GA 30101.

How does the state determine whether taxes have increased or decreased?

Under Georgia law, counties and cities are required to calculate a “rollback” millage rate after property reassessments are done and the total digest of taxable property for the year is prepared.  

“Millage” is the amount per $1,000 of the taxable value of a property used to calculate how much the property owner owes in taxes.  

The “rollback” millage rate is the hypothetical rate at which the taxation under the newly prepared tax digest would produce the same total tax revenue as the previous year.  

If the county proposes a millage rate higher than the rollback rate, three public hearings are required so the public can give its opinion on the tax increase.

Notice posted on the City of Acworth website

Here is the notice posted to the City of Acworth website:

“The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Acworth have tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 24.91 percent. 

“All concerned citizens are invited to the Public Hearing on this tax increase to be held at Acworth City Hall, 4415 Center Street, Acworth, GA 30101 on July 17, 2023 at 6:30 PM at a Regular Work Session in the Council Chambers. 

“Additional Public Hearings on this tax increase will be heard in the Council Chambers at Acworth City Hall, 4415 Center Street, Acworth, GA 30101 on July 25, 2023 at 9:00 AM and on July 25, 2023 at 6:00 PM.  The millage rate will be adopted at a Special Called Meeting on July 25, 2023 at 6:00 PM, following the public hearing.

“This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 8.950 mills, an increase of 1.785 mills.  Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 7.165 mills.  The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $275,000 is approximately $196.35 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $450,000 is approximately $321.30.“

About the City of Acworth

Acworth got its start as a railroad depot for the Western & Atlantic railroad. An engineer for the W&A, Joseph Gregg, named the depot for his hometown of Acworth, New Hampshire.

It is the fifth largest city by population, after Mableton, Marietta, Smyrna and Kennesaw.

Acworth was incorporated as a city in 1860.

The following quick facts about Acworth were taken from the U.S. Census Bureau website.

Population Estimates, July 1 2021, (V2021)22,284

People

Population
Population Estimates, July 1 2021, (V2021)22,284
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2021)22,443
Population, percent change – April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2021, (V2021)-0.7%
Population, Census, April 1, 202022,440
Population, Census, April 1, 201020,425
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent5.2%
Persons under 18 years, percent28.9%
Persons 65 years and over, percent11.0%
Female persons, percent52.1%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent62.7%
Black or African American alone, percent(a)24.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a)0.3%
Asian alone, percent(a)2.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a)0.7%
Two or More Races, percent4.8%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b)15.7%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent54.3%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2016-20201,396
Foreign born persons, percent, 2016-202015.7%
Housing
Housing units, July 1, 2021, (V2021)
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2016-202060.6%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2016-2020$193,300
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2016-2020$1,373
Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2016-2020$449
Median gross rent, 2016-2020$1,296
Building permits, 2021
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2016-20208,178
Persons per household, 2016-20202.77
Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2016-202086.4%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2016-202026.9%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2016-202095.7%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2016-202088.8%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-202090.3%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-202033.8%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2016-20207.6%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent16.2%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-202069.6%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-202063.4%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c)104,223
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c)65,245
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c)26,747
Total retail sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c)572,376
Total retail sales per capita, 2017(c)$25,255
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2016-202030.6
Income & Poverty
Median household income (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020$66,003
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020$28,651
Persons in poverty, percent8.6%

Businesses

Businesses
All employer firms, Reference year 2017600
Men-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017356
Women-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 201775
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017427
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 201745
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017455

Geography

Geography
Population per square mile, 20202,488.4
Population per square mile, 20102,477.6
Land area in square miles, 20209.02
Land area in square miles, 2010

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