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Fayette County and its city governments and school system have approved their 2025 property tax millage rates, with a majority of the rates remaining the same or similar to last year’s rates. Even without a large uptick in rates, the increase in property value throughout the county will lead most to see an increase in their property tax bills.
Fayette County Board of Education
The Fayette County Board of Education adopted a millage rate of 19.6 mills, which is the same rate the board had in 2024. Despite the lack of change in the millage rate, property tax revenue is still expected to increase by 4.15% due to the increase in property value and growth on the tax digest.
The full rollback rate was calculated to be 18.819 mills. This means that the adopted rate is higher than the rollback and will thus result in an increase in taxes under state law.
Tom Gray, the school system’s chief financial officer, said this adoption was delayed because of a delay in property tax bills from the county tax commissioner’s office.
Fayette County Government
Fayette County’s government adopted a rate of 3.763 mills. The general fund, including maintenance and operations, and the E-911 fund remained unchanged, but the fire services and EMS service funds saw some change. The fire service rate was reduced by 0.25 mills to 2.82, and the EMS rate increased by 0.5 mills to 1.00. Since Peachtree City residents do not pay county fire service or EMS rates, this increase is not applicable to them.
For a $500,000 home in the county, Fayette County Chief Financial Officer Sheryl Weinman said the new rate would increase the tax bill by about $13.45 compared to 2024. Weinman also pointed out that Fayette County continues to have one of the lower millage rates compared to 18 counties of similar size and close proximity, ranking at having the sixth lowest rates.
A digest growth of about $262.8 million reflects slight increases in real and personal property, with reassessments somewhat offset by expanded homestead exemptions from House Bill 581.
Fayetteville
Fayetteville adopted a rate of 5.646 mills, a rate that has been unchanged since 2018, in a 3-2 vote. Council members Niyah Glover and Joe Clark opposed the motion.
City officials expect a 3.6% increase in property tax revenue this year, netting an additional $355,000 for the city.
“This is the first tax digest we have prepared since the State of Georgia passed and adopted House Bill 581 back in 2024. That law requires tax values on homesteaded properties to be frozen at the 2024 values,” said Mike Bush, City of Fayetteville’s Finance Director. “Residents owning a home in the City of Fayetteville valued at $425,000 in 2024 would have paid $959.82 that year, and they will pay the same dollar amount this year as well. None of our residents with homestead exemptions will pay more in City taxes this year than they did last year.”
Peachtree City
Peachtree City adopted a rate of 5.844 mills, a reduction from the previous rate of 6.043 mills.
The city continues to remain one of the lower rates in Fayette County due to residents not paying county fire or EMS service rates.
“The adopted 5.844 millage rate reflects the second millage rate reduction in the four years I have been mayor,” said Peachtree City Mayor Kim Learnard. “Couple that with a freeze on assessments to last year’s levels, and our citizens will realize a full rollback- no property tax increase.”
Tyrone
Tyrone approved a rate of 2.889 mills, a rate they have consistently kept for the last 18 years. Reassements will still lead to an increase in residents’ property taxes by 1.86%.
Brooks
Brooks approved a full rollback rate of 1.126 mills, a slight decrease from last year’s rate of 1.129. The town opted for the rollback in order to keep taxes flat for residents an avoid the need for public hearings.
The town’s officials noted that the change results in about $39 in additional revenue, keeping the budget essentially flat.
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