The Fulton County Board of Education approved a 1-mill property tax increase at its Tuesday, Oct. 13, meeting, according to the district's board bulletin. The maintenance and operations rate rises from 17.08 to 18.08 mills for fiscal year 2027.
The increase is the first in seven years for the district, which serves Johns Creek High School, Chattahoochee High School and Northview High School. It will generate roughly $50 million in recurring annual revenue.
The vote count was not released.
Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef presented the recommendation at the meeting, held at the North Learning Center. Dereef said the additional revenue would help the district meet obligations including employee salaries, retirement and health benefits while preserving financial reserves.
The vote followed three state-required public hearings. Superintendent Mike Looney first proposed the increase at the board's Aug. 11 work session, calling it "unwelcome" but in the best interest of the district and its students, as Appen Media reported. The board tentatively adopted the 18.08-mill rate at its Aug. 20 meeting.
The district identified more than $52 million in budget savings through its GLIDE cost-reduction initiative before recommending the increase. Even with those savings, projections showed that lower tax rates could push the district into budget deficits and reduce reserve funds below recommended levels, according to the bulletin.
For Johns Creek homeowners, one mill equals $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Georgia assesses property at 40% of market value. A home valued at $450,000 on the market carries an assessed value of $180,000, meaning the additional mill adds roughly $180 to the annual school tax bill before homestead exemptions.
More than 60% of the district's $2.3 billion budget depends on local tax revenue. Fulton County voters approved two homestead exemptions for older residents that are projected to decrease school revenue by about $50 million, adding pressure that helped drive the rate increase.
The district said it will provide regular updates to the board on enrollment trends, revenues, expenditures and reserve levels. Homeowners can estimate their tax impact using an online calculator on the Fulton County Schools website.
