Dalton Mayor & Council adopt rollback millage rate

UPDATE (11/12/2024):  The Dalton and Mayor Council voted to adopt the rollback millage rate.

According to the City of Dalton, the rollback rate is calculated to not increase the City’s revenue from property taxes based on the tax digest so as to not be a tax increase.

“With the temporary tax collection order that has taken the 2023 tax digest with a 10% appreciation, homeowners can expect a tax bill that is very close in value to their 2023 tax bill,” said Communications Director of the City of Dalton, Bruce Frazier in a statement.

The City’s Finance Department did the following calculated estimates:

• Homestead property valued at $200,000 in 2023 = taxes of $348.748

• Homestead property with 10% reassessment in 2024 value of = $220,000 and taxes of $368.20

• Homestead property with no reassessment in 2024 = taxes of $331.38

• Non-homestead property valued at $800,000 in 2023 = taxes of $1,548.8

• Non-homestead property with 10% reassessment in 2024 value of = $880,000 and taxes of $1,620

• Non-homestead property with no reassessment in 2024 = $1,472.80

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) —  The Dalton Mayor and Council are holding a meeting to discuss setting the millage rate for the 2024 property taxes.

The meeting is scheduled for November 12, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Holding the millage rate at the 2023 level was under consideration.

However, if this would’ve been the case, this would’ve created a 5.1 percent property tax increase.

According to the City of Dalton, the Mayor and Council now intend to consider a vote to adopt the full rollback of 1.841 mills.

This move would prevent a tax increase for Dalton residents.

Concerns over the temporary property tax digest in Whitfield County had initially led the council to consider keeping the rate unchanged.

The tax commissioner refused to certify the tax digest after an issuance of the initial digest.

After two public hearings and further consideration, the council opted to canceled the third public hearing and instead, will use the meeting to vote on the rollback rate.

If adopted, the rollback rate is expected to reduce property tax revenue by $121,828 for 2024.

Over the past 21 years, Dalton has only raised property taxes once, and has frequently adopted a rollback rate or lower.