Board of Commissioners Millage Rate Hearing - February 12, 2026
Board of Commissioners Millage Rate Hearing - February 12, 2026
This was a public hearing on the proposed FY25 millage rate. The hearing was being re‑run because the original newspaper advertisements for the first set of hearings were incorrectly sized. The presentation and public comment focused on the need for a millage increase to balance the budget due to rising expenses and falling revenues.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Letitia Williams (River’s Edge community) asked how the 31% advertised increase would actually affect her property tax. She was told taxes are increasing, but not by 31% – the gross millage would rise from 16 to 18.5 mills.
- Mary Matthews (Jonesboro) questioned whether the increase was locked in for more than one year. Staff explained that the millage is set annually based on the tax digest. She expressed opposition as a senior citizen and urged the board to seek equitable alternatives to avoid foreclosures and tax liens.
- Sherry Sinclair (Sawgrass Lakes / River’s Edge) challenged the example average home value of $250,000, stating as a real estate broker that the average is closer to $300,000–$350,000. She asked if funds could be taken from higher‑paid employees or through fundraisers rather than taxing homeowners. Staff explained that competitive wages are needed to retain employees and that the county partners with nonprofits rather than holding fundraisers. She expressed unhappiness with the proposed increase.
- Kenneth Chapel (Jonesboro) asked whether the presentation was available online or in print (it was not). He was told the budget is online but not the slides, and he could speak with staff offline.
Discussion Items
- Presentation by Angela Jackson (Finance):
- The FY25 proposed millage hearing was being re‑run for the second time due to the advertisement error. The new millage calendar: August 28 (ad), September 5 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. (these hearings), third hearing September 17, and adoption on September 18.
- Budgetary need: expenses increased, revenues decreased (including a drop in public utility tax from $15.1M to $7M), plus new state mandates (ethics board, salary increases for some elected officials). Total departmental requests were $383.7M, but forecasted revenue was $284M. Cuts of $66.8M were made without reducing services.
- The proposed millage is 18.5 mills, up from 16 mills last year. The 31% figure advertised is a percentage of the previous millage rate, not a percentage of homeowner taxes.
- Examples: For a home valued at $250,000 the annual increase would be $261.54 ($21.80/month); for $100,000 home $87.18/year ($7.27/month); for a $350,000 business $406.84/year ($33.90/month).
- Board comments: Commissioners acknowledged the presentation was identical to the earlier hearings. No questions were raised by the board. The chairman noted that the board is committed to exploring ways to alleviate the tax burden on seniors.
Key Outcomes
- No vote was taken at this hearing. It was solely a public hearing to receive input.
- The board adopted the meeting agenda unanimously after the hearing.
- The next steps: a third public hearing on September 17, 2024, followed by a special called meeting on September 18, 2024 for adoption of the FY25 millage.
Meeting Transcript
Clayton County, Georgia is hiring motivated energetic people. Apply for it. Clayton Connected Career Net. No, some I thought someone was trying to unlock it. Was that you? Yeah, I think we'll go. Okay, I thought it would. That's what I guess. Yeah. So we're not. That's what I was thinking. Okay. Yeah, I don't have a problem with that. But we just can't call the meeting to order. But we can have the presentation presented. And those public members that are here, it's important that they hear it. I think we've heard it before. So yes, let's go ahead and uh madam clerk. We're gonna go ahead and have the presentation by Miss Angela Jackson Finance. Good morning, commissioners. Let's see. Proposed Millage Hearing for FY 25. We're redoing the three hearings. They're the same as before. The advertisements and hearings are being redone as a result of the size of their original advertisements in the Clayton News. That is the only reason that we are redoing the three hearings. The millage calendar now will be August 28th. The ad appeared in the paper for the five-year history, the millage and the millage hearings. September 5th, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. public hearings. September 17th will be the third hearing, and September the 18th will be a special call to meeting for the adoption of the FY25 millage. Expenses increased, revenues decreased. We also had new mandates from the state. For a difference in budgetary needs of 99 million. There were departmental budget cuts of 66.8 million. The millage, the paper advertises a 31% increase. Taxes are not increasing 31%. Examples, the average value of a home in Clayton County is 250,000. The increase would be 261 dollars and 54 cents annually or 21 dollars and eighty cents per month. For a home valued at 100,000, the increase would be 87 and 18 cents per year or $7.27 per month. The average value of a business in Clayton County currently is $350,000. An increase on that business would be $406.84 annually or $33.90 per month. Are there any questions from the board? No, you're saying you stated before you did the presentation that this is the same information that was presented the first three times we had our millage hearings. Correct, yes, sir. All right. No uh questions from me. Are you good? Okay.
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