Fulton County wants to raise property taxes, and Johns Creek homeowners have three chances to speak up before commissioners vote.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners announced on Wednesday, Sept. 23 a proposed 0.54% increase over the rollback millage rate for the 2026 General Fund. The rollback rate is the millage rate that would produce the same total revenue as last year, before property reassessments changed home values.

Because the proposed rate exceeds the rollback rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings before commissioners can adopt a final millage rate.

Those hearings are set for Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. All three will be held at the Government Center Assembly Hall, 141 Pryor St. SW in Atlanta. Residents who cannot attend in person can join via video conference through the county's website.

The county has not disclosed what specific budget needs are driving the increase.

Last year's fight

The proposal is far smaller than what commissioners considered in 2025. That summer, the board voted 4-3 to allow for a 1-mill increase that would have raised the rate from 8.87 to 9.87 mills and generated an additional $79 million in revenue, according to Appen Media. More than 50 residents spoke against the hike at a July 9, 2025 public hearing. None spoke in favor.

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry was among those who pushed back at the July 2025 hearing. He told commissioners he submits a city budget based on the rollback rate each year. "We are able to make great success and gains in quality of life for the people of Johns Creek by doing what we can on less," Bradberry said.

After the public backlash, commissioners kept the rate flat at 8.87 mills. The county's millage rate has held steady since 2022, down from 10.5 mills in 2015.

What Johns Creek residents should know

The county millage rate is separate from Johns Creek's city rate. The city adopted a tentative millage rate of 3.492 in July 2026. Fulton County residents outside Atlanta face an Oct. 15 deadline to pay their 2026 property tax bills.

No date for the final vote on the proposed increase has been announced. The first hearing is Wednesday, Sept. 30.