Harlem voted to certify the estimated millage rate for fiscal year 2025, Thursday evening.
In a special called meeting of the Harlem City Council, City Manager Debra Moore told councilmembers that the meeting’s item is a result of Georgia HB 92, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp into law in April, which amends HB 581, the legislation that allows for floating homestead exemptions that limit annual assessment increases to inflation rates.
Bill 92 extends the deadline for Georgia municipalities to opt out of the exemptions to March of 2027.
Before HB 581 went into effect, a property owner’s annual notice of assessment (NOA) included the previous year’s millage rate, along with an estimated tax liability. HB 581 established the estimated roll-back rate, the current year’s estimated millage rate, save for the millage equivalent of the total net assessed value added by reassessments.
Local governments may certify, through a formal vote, the estimated rollback rate to be included in the NOA. The estimated rollback rate for the City of Harlem, Moore told the council, is 9.35. The vote to certify the rate was unanimous.
The millage rate will still go through the usual process of being formally adopted by the city in July.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
