DeKalb County residents can expect to see their home values appraised 6 percent lower on average in 2012 than the year before.
The county's Board of Tax Assessors voted unanimously Thursday on a tax digest that will lower the value of most properties, both commercial and residential. Values will drop 8 percent on average in unincorporated DeKalb.
That drop will mean the county will have less money for services and will have to find ways to make up the difference. DeKalb leaders had already projected a 5 percent drop and factored that into the current $559 million budget.
Last year, the county slashed spending but also raised the tax rate 26 percent to pay its bills.
Lee May, chairman of the County Commission's budget committee, said the dip was smaller than expected, which is good overall, but challenges remain.
“All things being equal, I am pleased to see only a 6 percent decline in the county's digest as a whole," he said. "It is also important to note that the unincorporated digest for the county is at an 8 percent decline, which is of great concern. The budget committee, however, will continue to review these numbers and the subsequent calculations to ensure that there are no unexpected and further reductions in the digest."
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