City Council will convene on Monday to vote on Milton’s next millage rate, with the rate that’s been advertised being significantly lower than last year.

The Council will actually meet in back-to-back meetings on August 11, the first being a Work Session that starts at 6 p.m. and the second begin a Special Called Meeting (happening only for the millage rate “Public Hearing” and vote) that will follow immediately after. People are welcome to attend these meetings in-person at Milton’s City Hall (2006 Heritage Walk) or watch online at https://youtu.be/-XnkC734bAU.

By definition, Work Sessions are opportunities for the City Council to hear about projects, initiatives, or other matters. Elected officials can ask questions and offer direction, but they cannot take conclusive votes.

The first item on Monday’s Work Session agenda is a “Discussion of the Draft 2025 Capital Improvement Element (CIE) Annual Update.”

The State of Georgia requires city governments, like Milton, adopt a Capital Improvement Element (CIE) Annual Update in order to collect impact fees. Impact fees are taken in from those creating new developments to help pay for upgrades to bridges, roads, parks, and government buildings. On Monday, City staff will provide an overview of the data and process related to the City’s Impact Fee program for Fiscal Year 2024, which ran from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024.

At its next meeting on August 18, after a Public Hearing on this topic, the Council will vote on authorizing the transmittal of the CIE Annual Update for review by State (the Georgia Department of Community Affairs) and regional (Atlanta Regional Commission) authorities. The City Council’s  vote on adopting a final CIE update (once those reviews are complete) will take place before the end of October.

Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill will then lead a “Discussion of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.” This will be her third such public presentation on plans for the City government’s budget for the fiscal year that will run from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. During the other two, she and other City staff touched on new proposed initiatives as well as five-year revenue and expenditure forecasts and the pay-go portion of the City’s seven-year Capital Improvement Plan.

Monday’s presentation will touch on the proposed budgets for every City department, as well as across various government funds. Staff will be in Council Chambers to answer questions should they arise. In addition, Harvill will present a 5-year operating and 7-year capital plan. To see the Fiscal Year 2026 Draft Proposed Budget, CLICK HERE.

After two additional public hearings, the Council is set to vote on adopting Milton’s next budget at its September 15 meeting.

The Work Session will officially end after Harvill’s budget presentation. Right after that happens, a Special Called Meeting will be called to order.

The lone item on that agenda pertains to an ordinance for the Council “to establish the Ad Valorem Tax Rate for the City of Milton for Fiscal Year 2026.”

Governments like Milton levy ad valorem taxes, more commonly known as property taxes, to fund City operations and maintenance. Council will vote Monday on the related millage rate, which is the rate at which a property owner is tax, with a “mill” equating to every $1,000 in assessed value.

Last year, Council set Milton’s millage rate 4.389 mills – which was a decrease from the previous year’s rate. The advertised rate for the coming year, 4.193 mills, not only represents a 4.47% year-over-year decrease and, if approved, would be the lowest millage rate in Milton’s history. (NOTE: A typo was fixed to make clear that, if the advertised rate is approved, it would represent a 4.47% year-over-year DECREASED rate.)

On Monday, citizens will have the opportunity to share their thoughts in the last of three public hearings on this matter. Then, the Mayor and Council will vote on what this year’s millage rate should be. Harvill’s millage rate presentation can be viewed here: https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showdocument?id=8601.

After that’s done and the meeting ends, the Council is next set to convene August 18 for a Regular Meeting.