PRESS RELEASE

FORSYTH, Ga. The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners adopted all millage rates levied in the County on July 23. The County’s portion of the overall millage rate is 7.896 mills, which is slightly less than last year.

The County’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) millage rate is set at 4.791 mills, the same as last year. Due to the growth in the tax digest, M&O property taxes levied by the County this year will increase by a net 2.07% over the rollback millage rate.

The County’s Fire rate is set at 2.175 mills, the same as last year, and the Bond rate is set at 0.930 mills, slightly less than last year.

These rates will fund the county’s 2021 general operating budget, which is currently in the preliminary stages of development. Forsyth County continues to have millage rates among the lowest in metro Atlanta.

A growth of 4.67% in Forsyth County’s tax digest means that, while the county is maintaining the same millage rates with no change, the anticipated total collections will increase.

Of the 4.67% growth, 2.55% is due to new construction in 2019 and the remaining 2.12% comes from increased values from reassessments. Any change in an individual tax bill will depend upon the change in assessed valuation for that property, and the value of any Homestead Exemption, which may also change with the assessed value.

Forsyth County has a “floating” Homestead Exemption, which is designed to keep the net taxable value at the prior year’s amount. This “floating” exemption only applies to the county M&O and fire portions of property tax bills.

Forsyth County staff, Finance Committee and Board of Commissioners will continue preparing the county’s proposed 2021 budget, which is slated for adoption in October.

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