Fulton County is considering a 12.49% increase in property taxes for the year 2025, triggering concerns among residents and property owners alike.
This proposed increase is associated with a new millage rate of 9.87 mills, which is 1.096 mills higher than the previous year’s rate.
The county’s Board of Commissioners justified this action by citing rising costs for essential services, particularly those related to the Fulton County Jail.
On June 29, 2025, the Board of Commissioners made a public announcement regarding their intention to further increase the General Fund property taxes by this significant percentage over the rollback millage rate.
In accordance with Georgia law, the Board of Tax Assessors is mandated to review the assessed value of taxable properties each year to ensure they reflect current market trends.
When there is an observable increase in the market value of properties, the law requires a reassessment to adjust the property values accordingly.
As the total taxable property digest is prepared, Georgia law stipulates that a rollback millage rate must be calculated.
This rate aims to generate the same total revenue at current valuations as the prior year’s millage rate would have produced, without any reassessment.
Sheriff Pat Labatt of Fulton County has been vocal about his frustrations with the county’s funding process for jail operations.
After years of contentious discussions, he has signaled his intention to take legal action against the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
Labatt argues that withholding funds from the jail operations is not only punitive but also an attempt to exert control over the facility.
The situation has escalated following the decision by Strategic Security Corp. to terminate its contract with the Fulton County Jail, effectively discontinuing security services at the jail facility known as Rice Street in Atlanta.
Strategic Security Corp. expressed its disappointment, stating that despite numerous attempts to resolve outstanding financial issues—including numerous emails, phone calls, and meetings—no viable solutions were brought forth by the involved parties.
The company announced, “Regrettably, no timeline for payment or good faith attempt to address the outstanding balance has been made.”
Labatt acknowledged in a press conference that his office had fallen behind on payments to SSC, accumulating about $1 million in debt over three months.
He characterized SSC’s abrupt decision to cease operations on August 29, 2024, as reckless, jeopardizing the safety of jail personnel.
Despite these challenges, the sheriff said that the jail successfully rehired more than half of the former SSC guards, offering them a 10% increase in pay.
The discord between Labatt and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners extends beyond funding issues and includes debates around the future of the jail facility itself.
There have been heated disagreements regarding whether to renovate the existing facility, which has faced multiple investigations for neglect, or to construct a new modern facility to better serve operations.
As the county prepares for a tax increase and navigates these pressing concerns, its future decisions regarding jail operations and funding remain a focal point of contention.
image source from：atlantadailyworld
