Smyrna OKs millage rate, results in property tax increase

Aug. 4—The Smyrna City Council approved the city's 2021 property tax rate this week, resulting in a net tax increase for the city.

As with Cobb County government, the city did not increase its millage rate from 2020's 8.99 mills. That rate has been in effect since its 2008 fiscal year. Because, however, the city will collect more revenue based on a rise in home valuations, it is required by law to advertise a tax increase.

Prior to the unanimous vote to approve the tax rate, the council held the third of its required public hearings on the subject, but no residents spoke during it. Mayor Derek Norton was not present for the meeting.

Were Smyrna to institute a rollback of its millage rate — lowering the rate so the city's revenues stayed flat — it would set the rate at 8.46 mills. The adopted rate of 8.99 mills is 6.16% higher than the rollback rate.

Smyrna, like Cobb County, offers a homestead exemption for residents which freezes their property tax at the initial assessed value of their home. A homeowner with a house valued at $100,000 would pay $359.60 in property taxes, per city estimates.

The extra revenue will help the city fund its $55.5 million general fund budget adopted in early June, a $1.9 million growth over the previous year. A nearly $300,000 slice of that increase will go toward rising employee health insurance costs, according to a budget summary prepared by city staff. The city also approved the creation of six new full-time positions, drawn from 23 requests.