The City of Brookhaven recently announced that, to fund its upcoming fiscal year expenditures, it is proposing a 3.85 millage rate, resulting in a 1.233-mill increase over the rollback millage rate.
The previous millage rate was 2.74 mills, which has been in effect since 2015.
According to information from the city, the proposed increase for a homesteaded property with a fair market value of $800,000 would be approximately $394 annually, and the proposed increase for a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $1.575 million would total about $764.
An opinion piece written by Brookhaven Mayor John Park and submitted to Rough Draft Atlanta said the city “is also now feeling the very real squeeze of inflation.”
“This means the price to maintain our city at your expected levels of service excellence has also gone up,” he said in the editorial published on May 28. “Please keep in mind that the property tax bill you will receive later this summer will go primarily to DeKalb County and the DeKalb School District, with only 7 – 8 % of the average homeowner’s bill being city taxes.”
Park said Brookhaven’s ability to sustain the current level of services, as well as long-term infrastructure investment, “will become increasingly difficult without additional revenue. Our police department alone consumes 36% of the city’s operating budget.”
Last November, the council passed an ordinance to remove a cap on the city’s millage rate, despite pleas from residents to allow a decision to be made by referendum and accusations that it violates the city’s charter.
During the November public hearing that stretched more than an hour, former Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis and dozens of speakers decried the council’s consideration of an ordinance that would raise the millage rate from 2.74 to 3.54, and remove the language from the city’s charter that dictates the rate cannot be higher than 3.35. A mill is equal to a $1 tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.
Opponents to the measure said after the meeting they will challenge the council’s decision in court, but to date, no public action has been taken.
Triple whammy?
The DeKalb County School District has announced that it will maintain its 22.78 mill rate without rolling it back to revenue-neutral status, thus creating a 3%-tax increase for homeowners.
In addition, the DeKalb County Tax Assessor’s Office has also sent out notices of assessment, with many homeowners reporting double-digit increases in their homes’ values.
Upcoming meetings
Brookhaven residents can weigh in by attending upcoming public hearings regarding the 2026 millage rate. The meetings will be held June 9, at 6:30 p.m. and June 23, at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at City Centre at 4001 Peachtree Road.
After the final public hearing, the millage rate will be formally adopted at the June 23, meeting, officials said.
