Johns Creek homeowners could pay about $180 more per year in school taxes under a 1-mill property tax increase that Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney plans to bring before the Board of Education on Thursday, Aug. 20.
Looney announced the proposal at the board's Tuesday, Aug. 11 work session, calling the increase "unwelcome" but necessary to address a $57 million budget deficit the district adopted in June. If approved, the school millage rate would rise from 17.08 to 18.08 mills, the first increase in seven years.
For a homeowner with a house valued at $450,000 on the market, assessed at $180,000 under Georgia's 40% ratio, the new rate would mean $3,254 in annual school taxes before homestead exemptions.
What's driving the deficit
More than 60% of the Fulton County School System's budget depends on local property tax revenue. Last year, Fulton County voters approved two senior homestead exemptions projected to cut school revenue by approximately $50 million.
The district said rising health care costs, increased employer contributions to the Teachers Retirement System, inflation and declining local tax revenue from those exemptions created the budget pressure. Looney said the district made roughly $50 million in austerity cuts over the past year through a cost-reduction initiative called GLIDE before turning to a rate increase.
When the board formally adopted the $2.3 billion budget in June, Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef said staff had trimmed an initial $95 million projected gap down to $57 million "while maintaining core services," according to Appen Media's June report. Even after drawing on reserves, Dereef estimated the fund balance would remain above $233 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2027.
What happens Aug. 20
The board will vote on a tentative millage rate at the Aug. 20 meeting. That vote does not set the final rate.
If the tentative rate passes, three state-required public hearings will be scheduled before a final vote, which Georgia law requires by Sept. 1. Board members can accept Looney's recommendation, keep the rate flat or propose a different number.
Looney said at the work session that if the county's finalized tax digest warrants a different recommendation, he would adjust: "If something changes in the interim … then I will gladly work with staff to reduce that increase to something less."
The county's tax digest remains unfinished. Fulton County Superior Court granted a temporary collection order Aug. 4 allowing the tax commissioner to send estimated bills using 2025 rates while the Board of Assessors works through what officials called an unprecedented backlog. Once the digest is certified, the school system will set its final rate.
How Fulton compares
Even at 18.08 mills, Fulton County Schools would remain below neighboring districts. DeKalb County recently approved a rate of 22.78 mills, and Cobb County tentatively adopted 18.70 mills, according to Appen Media.
If the increase is approved, the district said it would eliminate a proposed employee furlough day for the 2026-27 school year and provide flexibility to consider future salary increases, according to Rough Draft Atlanta.
The Aug. 20 board meeting is open to the public. Dates for the three required public hearings will be announced after the tentative vote.
