County millage rate to remain at 8.5
by Winston Jones/Times-Georgian
Jul 24, 2012 | 1773 views | 4 4 comments | 19 19 recommendations | email to a friend | print
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday afternoon to leave the county's property tax rate at 8.5 mills, the same rate it has been since 2007.

The vote was cast without discussion. All BOC members were present for the vote except District 5 Commissioner Kevin Jackson.

Commission Chairman Bill Chappell said last week that the rate is being kept low, despite a decreasing tax digest in recent years due to property devaluations caused by the recession and increased number of foreclosure sales. This year’s county tax digest is expected to shrink about 2.5 percent from last year.

Chappell noted the Board of Education levy this year is 19.5 mills, down from 19.6 mills last year.

“We levy the tax for them, but we have no say over their millage,” he said. “We collect it and turn it over to them.

“Revenues from property taxes are going down, but revenues from other sources, such as local option sales tax, are increasing,” Chappell said last week. “It’s not a vast increase, but it’s enough to make up the difference, so we can go into this fiscal year with a balanced budget.”

Residents living in the incorporated areas of Bowdon, Bremen, Mt. Zion, Roopville, Temple, Villa Rica and Whitesburg will pay an additional 8.5 mills of tax.

The city tax for Carrollton residents is 7.23 mills. This difference in the Carrollton rate, compared with other cities, is due to a service delivery agreement contract adopted in September 1999 to give credit for fire protection given by the city of Carrollton to unincorporated county areas.

The tax digest and millage rates are due Aug. 1 at the state Department of Revenue office, so that property tax bills can be mailed in September, with a due date of Dec. 1.

Property tax is calculated by taking 40 percent of the market value of a home, subtracting out any exemptions, such as homestead exemptions, then multiplying the final figure by the tax millage rate. Carroll County’s millage rate is 28.3, which includes amounts for the state and county, plus the local school system. (One mill is equal to $1 for each $1,000 of assessed value or .001.) Any city property millage rates are added to the above figure.

The county has a number of homestead exemptions, including those approved by voters on Nov. 3, 1992. They include a $4,000 homestead exemption for property owners’ primary residence and an $8,000 homestead exemption for people 65 years of age and older.

An additional homestead exemption was approved on Nov. 4, 2008, which provides a full exemption of school taxes for residents 65 years of age or older.

An additional homestead exemption, approved Aug. 20, 2002, declares an exemption “in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of that homestead exceeds the base year assessed value of that homestead, in order to assure that ad valorem taxes on such property for county purposes will not be increased as a result of the reassessment of such property.”

Share This Article |
similar stories

County unemployment dips to 9.7 percent | 12 days ago by Winston Jones/Times-Georgian

Edwards on school budget: ‘We’re doing more with less’ | 8 days ago by Colton Campbell/Times-Georgian

No tax hikes or fee increases for Carrollton | 21 days ago by Winston Jones/Times-Georgian

County discusses jail options | 22 days ago by By Ken Denney/For The Tallapoosa Journal

City BOE announces new principal; new drug testing policy tabled | 4 days ago by Colton Campbell/Times-Georgian

Comments
(4)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
RhettMillsaps
|
July 25, 2012
Once again, people with no faces, the comments here on this subject from me are from me and the comments from the others are just comments because they don't count as comments, there is no name to be responsible for the content, and sounds like people who envy Bill Chappell, who I have promoted for the Chairman's job since the beginning because I know he can make the tough decisions the county needs and because he has proven it. Regardless of the situation, our taxes have remained the same and we have a surplus in Carroll county, these are straight facts and I like to deal with facts, these two comments might count if the mask were pulled off and the ones behind them came on out in the public and made the comments themselves. Don't listen to cowards tell or spin as they call it, just take it from a taxpayer, plain and simple, and they can call me anything they wish, Chairman Chappell has done the county a great service, and build the courthouse, which is what you must be talking about the expense, wonderful way to invest it, more and more criminals are appearing in Carroll county, some even run for office, I suppose you wouldn't be one of them would you? Vote to keep taxes down, service up and be a positive part of Carroll County, Vote for Bill Chappell, a proven leader who knows what he is doing and has done it better than those before him. We do need change and I would say Ashley Hendrix needs to be done, she votes for her family business and gets away with it and has the nerve to say Tommy Lee has a conflict of interest, she is the pot calling the kettle black, watch out people, the wolfs are out and they have wondered over here to this page.
Reply
Report Abuse
RhettMillsaps
|
July 25, 2012
Once again, the county will not be raising taxes, although almost every other county in the state is. The Chairman promised the people this way back in 2007 and to date, no increase in taxes from the Board of Commissioners. Now some say that he has benefited from previous actions by the board, but regardless of what others say, the Chairman has kelp his word to the taxpayers of Carroll county. Many others before him had no clue what to do in this position, and I just want the taxpayers to know that year after year, this Chairman has kelp his word to the people, rare for today, don't you think? The citizens of Carroll county have a leader they can trust and it is Bill Chappell, although many in the county don't really know how great a job he has done, I have lived here since 1988, and I have seen many changes, but Chairman Chappell has done what all the others could not do, build the courthouse, without raising taxes, we now have many great things going in the county and much has been done due to the effectiveness of the Chairman's office. Those running against him can only say he benefited from tax increases of the past, but regardless of whatever they say, the chairman promised the people he would not increase their property taxes and with the economy the way it is throughout the state, Carroll county is in great financial shape. Without strong leadership, we would not be here, this is certain. His style is the issue and to make tough decisions in a position that requires it is what he is about, and some don't like the way he handles that. But I for one have to say that without Bill Chappell, we could be raising county taxes for whatever reason, I am proud of the work he has done and of the projects he has completed. The thing is, his opposition say he is tough to deal with, that is a good thing. If he agreed with all that the others wanted, we would be in a mess. Thank you Bill Chappell, for standing up for the tax payers, I being one, do appreciate a job well done. I pray the people of Carroll county realize how rare a leader you have been and choose to reelect you this year, it is a time of uncertainty, but with you in the leadership, we all can rest assured that our tax dollars are being watched over and handled well.
Reply
Report Abuse
C'towndawg
|
July 25, 2012
Are you Bills' campaign manager or just 1 of his puppets. No matter what the story is concerning Chappell, you feel the need to defend him. Had Dictator Bill done what others wanted him to do, we wouldn't be giving our tax dollars to non-profits like the NAACP. As for his campaign promises, how come the county bought 1/2 a million dollars worth of equipment from Randy Simpkins without any kind of bidding. A direct lie from dictator Bill. How come Randy Simpkins was paid 150,000 dollars over a 12 month period again with no bidding for that service. You don't believe that well do some research for yourself. A hiring freeze was what Bill promised during his original campaign. Yet again, another lie. No tax raises you brag about. You suppose he may be benefitting from a 2 mil tax increase right before he went in office that amounts to about 6 million a year extra that the previous chairman didn't have.
Report Abuse
Trojanman
|
July 25, 2012
Chappell passed the largest budget ever proposed by a chairman and passed by a BOC this year, again, the largest most expensive budget in the history of Carroll county. Chappell has spent more SPLOST dollars than any other Chairman in the history of Carroll county. He has reaped a 2 mill tax increase that was passed months before he took office. 2 mills = 6 million dollars per year x 5 years in office = 30 million dollars that we should have in reserve. Lets compare apples to apples. Remove the 2 mill tax increase and Chappell struggles just like the other Chairman did except worse in this economy. The Chappell is a spin master but his little charade is up. Bill Chappell is done, you heard it here first, he will lose this election. If you don't believe me then just go out in Carroll county and begin to talk about the Chairman race and you'll see, he's done.
Report Abuse