We have now received the 2018 tax digest from the Fulton County Board of Tax Assessors with the preliminary net digest showing a 24.7% increase. That local revenue accounts for approximately 73% of the District’s General Fund revenue.Since last school year, Atlanta Board of Education and school officials have been aware of the high property assessments homeowners would inevitably receive and committed immediately to helping homeowners with some tax relief.
Here’s what we did: First, APS joined its local legislative delegation in passing Senate Bill 485, a homestead exemption bill increasing the exemption from $30,000 to $50,000 resulting in significant property tax reductions to homeowners beginning with the 2019 tax digest. Second, I will be recommending that the district continues to honor that commitment by offering homeowners additional tax relief in the form of a reduction in the millage rate. Those two actions combined will reduce the pressure on the tax bills. The exact amount of the millage roll-back recommendation will be made on Friday at the upcoming budget commission meeting.