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Coweta taxes on the rise

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Coweta County property owners will get a double whammy late this fall when their tax bills arrive.

The Coweta County Commission announced this week that it would be raising the millage rate for the first time in 12 years.

The proposed 2005 millage rates of 5.15 mills for the unincorporated areas; 6.31 for the incorporated areas represent a huge increase for taxpayers. The millage rate jumps 23.6 percent for residents in the unincorporated county and 22.5 percent for residents in the incorporated residents. The 2.50 mills assessed for the fire district remains the same. Last year’s rates were 3.91 in the unincorporated county and 5.12 in the incorporated county.

In a press release this week, Coweta County Administrative and Operations Director Tom Corker said public hearings on the proposed millage rates have been scheduled over the next three weeks. Because the proposed millage rates are higher than those computed with the required rollback, Georgia Law requires that three public hearings be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the net increase.

Corker also noted that Coweta County's millage rates have not increased over the past 12 years while the county's population has seen an increase in population of approximately 58 percent. The proposed 2005 millage rates would still place Coweta as having one of the lowest property tax rates in metro-Atlanta for combined general maintenance and operation and fire even when compared to other metro county's 2004 tax rates.

Concerned citizens are invited to express their views and opinions at public hearings to be held September 8 at 9 a.m., September 15 at 6 p.m., and September 20 at 6 p.m. The public hearings will be held in the Commission Meeting Room at 37 Perry Street in Newnan.