A divided Roswell City Council approved a millage rate of 4.955 mills for FY 2019 property taxes, a 4.6 percent tax increase over the prior year.
The council voted 4-2 to approve the rate, with Council Members Michael Palermo and Marcelo Zapata casting the opposing votes. Earlier, the council voted 2-4 to reject a motion by Zapata, seconded by Palermo, to reduce the rate to 4.085 mills. The approved rate is 0.500 mills lower than the 5.455 mills of last year.
The tax digest is expected to grow by 4 percent, and the new rate is expected to bring in $700,000 more than the budget, according to Finance Director Ryan Luckett. “Staff feels this is a reasonable buffer with all the unknowns in terms of property tax appeals” pending before Fulton County, Luckett told the council.
A home valued at the $300,000 average for Roswell would see a roughly $39 increase in the annual city tax bill, Luckett said. The rate consists of 4.705 mills for the general fund, maintenance and operations and capital improvements budget, and 0.250 mills for bond debt.
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