Gwinnett County Public Schools' Board of Education has tentatively adopted a millage rate that increases property taxes. The board plans three public hearings before officially setting the rate.
More property-tax revenue is projected for the fifth consecutive year, after annual declines for fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Property values are projected to increase by 4 percent, generating an additional $22 million in tax revenue in fiscal 2019.
The adopted budget for fiscal year 2019 is approximately $2.193 billion overall, an increase of 2.6 percent from the 2018 budget. The 2019 budget for general school operations is $1.706 billion, an increase of 5.2 percent.
By state law, local taxing authorities such as the school board must either keep their tax collections revenue-neutral by decreasing the millage rate to offset gains from the property value updates, or announce a tax increase.
In May the school board approved the tentative millage rate of 21.75, lower than last year’s 21.85 due to a 0.10 decrease in the debt service millage. The slightly lower millage will still generate more revenue for fiscal year 2019 and so requires the school district to announce a proposed property tax increase. However, taxpayers whose property values have not increased due to reassessment will see a slight reduction in their school tax bill.
The first public hearing will be at 7 p.m. July 9, and the second and third hearings will be July 16 at 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the board room at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road NW in Suwanee.
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