DeKalb may raise taxes on cities

020905 ATLANTA, GA: The 2001 and 2002 tax bills of Evelyn Banks for land adjacent to her Lynwood Park home. The appraised value increased from $22,500 in 2001 to $120,000 in 2002. New home construction in the community has been responsible for a staggering increase in property appraisals and tax bills. (BARRY WILLIAMS/SPECIAL

Credit: Todd Duncan

Credit: Todd Duncan

020905 ATLANTA, GA: The 2001 and 2002 tax bills of Evelyn Banks for land adjacent to her Lynwood Park home. The appraised value increased from $22,500 in 2001 to $120,000 in 2002. New home construction in the community has been responsible for a staggering increase in property appraisals and tax bills. (BARRY WILLIAMS/SPECIAL

All of DeKalb County residents who live in cities would see the county portion of their property taxes increase next year, according to Interim CEO Lee May's proposed budget.

Meanwhile, the tax rate for unincorporated DeKalb would remain unchanged.

The cities' tax rates have fluctuated in recent years, and all of the cities received a tax cut this year.

Between 2013 and 2015, county taxes paid by city residents have risen slightly.

"If you want to keep your overall millage rate flat, you have to make other adjustments," May said last week.

About 200,000 of DeKalb's 700,000 residents live in cities.

City provide various services through their tax collections, but county taxes cover libraries, courts, jails, the sheriff's department, elections, water and sewer. Some services, like police, are covered by either the county or cities depending on the jurisdiction.

May's recommended $1.13 billion budget for 2015 is almost exactly the same size as the 2014 budget.

The DeKalb Commission will vote on the budget and tax rates by the end of February.