Brookhaven homeowners could soon see a higher city property tax bill if leaders approve a proposed millage rate increase.
The city is proposing to raise its maintenance-and-operations rate from 2.74 mills to 3.85 mills, according to Atlanta News First. That is a 40.5% increase in the city rate.
The Brookhaven City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal Tuesday, June 23, after a third and final public hearing at City Centre.
The proposal does not mean the entire property tax bill rises by 40%. It means the city’s operating millage rate would rise, and the city portion is only one part of a homeowner’s full tax bill.
An $800,000 Home Could Pay About $395 More
The city says a homesteaded property with a fair market value of $800,000 would see an annual increase of about $394.56 under the proposed rate. Atlanta News First rounded that impact to about $400 per year.
The city’s finance page says the proposed rate is needed to fund Brookhaven’s 2026 general fund budget, which totals $42.7 million. That budget is $4.5 million, or 11.8%, higher than the adopted 2025 general fund budget.
Residents Are Questioning the Cost
Some homeowners told Atlanta News First they would rather see the rate stay low. One retired veteran who has lived in Brookhaven for 30 years said he and his wife are watching their budget and want to keep the rate as low as possible.
City officials said the higher rate would help pay for day-to-day operations, including police, road maintenance, and sidewalk improvements. Officials also said Brookhaven would still have one of the lowest millage rates in DeKalb County.
The Vote Comes After Required Public Hearings
Brookhaven said Georgia law requires public hearings before the city can finalize a millage rate above the rollback rate. Hearings were scheduled for June 9 and June 23.
If approved, Atlanta News First reported it would be Brookhaven’s first millage rate increase since the city was incorporated in December 2012. Homeowners should check the final adopted rate before budgeting, because the proposal had not yet been approved in the original report.