State adds $34 to city tax bills

by Bob Pepalis / Appen Newspapers

City Council recently approved the first reading of its millage rate, keeping it at 5.75 mills for the next fiscal year.However, with the state legislature removing an $8,000 homestead exemption, another $34 will be added to every Alpharetta residential property owner's tax bill.

The state had funded the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant. Alpharetta, like most cities and counties, gave every homeowner a credit on his or her tax bill. Later in the year, the state would send a check to the city to cover it."We wait for the state to give us that check. That's about $400,000," said Finance Director Tom Harris.Council members were concerned that city taxpayers would assume Alpharetta raised taxes, when it had nothing to do with this change.