For the first

time in nearly 10 years, the Coweta County Board of Commissioners hiked

taxes slightly this week.

The 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 is 5.13, up from 5.00 in 2002.

County officials

said 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.

The county

also raised the fire district tax millage from 2.05 in 2002 to 2.50 in

2003. The increase is for additional personnel as the county's fire department

grows and increases the level of service to citizens countywide.

"It's

really not a tax hike. We didn't have to raise taxes for the general fund,"

Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter said Wednesday.

County officials

are quick to point out that many residents will actually see a decrease

in their tax bills, because the county's homestead exemption increased

from $5,000 to $10,000 this year.

Residents living

in the unincorporated county with a home valued at $100,000 should see

a savings of 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.