Douglasville Mayor & Council anticipated to rollback Millage Rate

(Douglasville, GA) – Douglasville, GA – The City of Douglasville will vote on August 15, 2016 during their regularly scheduled City Council meeting at 6:00 pm to set the millage rate.    Due to the growth in the tax digest, property values have increased by 5% percent.  A growth rate of 5% percent in the City of Douglasville’s tax digest means if the City of Douglasville were to maintain the same millage rate the anticipated total collections would increase by $421,810.  Georgia law requires the millage rate to be rolled back each year to offset any inflationary increases in the digests.

At a Finance Council Committee meeting held at 5:00 pm on Thursday, August 1, 2016, the City of Douglasville’s Finance Director, Karin Callan stated to the elected officials “In order to prevent an increase in taxes to the citizens of Douglasville, based on the 2016 assessed values, you will need to “roll back” the millage.”  A “roll back” in the City of Douglasville’s millage rate will result in a decrease of 7.338 millage rate to a 6.911 for maintenance and operations and change of 1.616 millage rate to a 1.526 for the general obligation bond.  With an affirmative vote on Monday, August 15, 2016 to “roll back” the millage rate, the new rate would be 6.911 for Maintenance and Operations and 1.526 for Bonds.

The overall decrease in the City of Douglasville’s budget is an estimated $125,000.  City Manager, Marcia Hampton stated “Monies budgeted in the fiscal year 2017 contingency line item as well as any potential increase in sales tax revenues can help make up decrease in funds.”    The anticipated action of Mayor and City Council, by rolling back the millage rate, could possibly yield potential savings to the City of Douglasville tax payers of $421,810.  “Our goal is to be fiscally responsible and make the best use of the tax payer’s dollars” said Mayor Robinson.  “The staff has presented an option for the City of Douglasville to manage the decrease in funds and it will result in a saving to the citizens, which I believe is extremely important” she continued.

The official vote to set the millage rate for the City of Douglasville is scheduled for August 15, 2016 at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers (Douglasville Conference Center Auditorium) located at 6700 Church Street Douglasville, GA.