Three public

hearings have been set on the tentative millage rates: Sept. 23 at 11

a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sept 30 at 9 a.m. The actual 2003 millage rates are

expected to be approved Sept. 30 following the final public hearing.

The tentative

millage rates reflect an overall one percent increase in unincorporated

areas and a 7 percent increase in incorporated areas for maintenance and

operations and a 24 percent increase in the Fire District tax. These percentage

increases are being advertised according to state law reflecting recent

reappraisals and growth in the tax digest.

The tentative

2003 millage rate for unincorporated maintenance and operations is actually

remaining at 3.93, the same level as in 2002. The 2003 millage rate for

incorporated maintenance and operations has been tentatively set at 5.13

up from 5.00 in 2002. The difference between unincorporated and incorporated

millage for maintenance and operations results from a rollback for insurance

premium tax. The county must roll back the millage rate in unincorporated

areas to reflect the insurance premium tax.

That rollback

is not reflected in the incorporated millage, because municipalities also

receive the insurance premium tax and can reflect that in the municipal

millage rates. The fire district tax millage reflects an increase from

2.05 in 2002 to 2.50 in 2003. The increase is to be used to provide additional

personnel as the county's fire department grows and increases the level

of service to citizens countywide.

Looking at

the unincorporated areas of the county, an increase in homestead exemption

from $5,000 in 2002 to $10,000 in 2003 will actually result in slight

tax savings for those living in a house with a fair market value of $100,000.

That savings

is approximately $3.25 if the value of the house has not changed from

2002 to 2003. The owner of a house with a fair market value of $200,000

will see a slight increase in tax. The increase is approximately $1.60

if the value of the house has not changed from 2002 to 2003. The owner

of a house with a fair market value of $400,000 will see an increase in

tax of approximately $37.60 if the value of the house has not changed

from 2002 to 2003.

Looking at

the incorporated areas of the county, the owner of a $100,000 house will

see either a tax savings of approximately $21.10 or a savings of approximately

$17.85 if that house is located inside a county fire district. The owner

of a $200,000 house will see either a savings of approximately $15.90

or an increase of approximately $5.35 if the house is located in a county

fire district. The owner of a $400,000 house will see either a savings

of approximately $5.50 or an increase of approximately $51.75 if the house

is located in a county fire district. Again, these figures are based on

houses that have not increased in value from 2002 to 2003.

These figures

are for taxes collected for the Coweta County Government and do not reflect

taxes imposed by the school board, the various municipalities, or the

state.

The public

is invited to make comments on the tentative millage rates at any of the

three public hearings. The Board of Commissioners has tried to minimize

increases needed to raise revenues required to continue providing services

at a level citizens deserve.