Fulton County school district and government officials will ask a superior court judge Tuesday to approve a temporary tax collection order because of a delay in certifying this year’s property tax digest. Officials say they need the order to collect tax revenue on time and pay bills, including employee and teacher salaries.
“There was a higher number than normal of land packages that were not processed, which is why we find ourselves in this situation,” said Commissioner Dana Barrett, who represents Buckhead and parts of Sandy Springs and Midtown.
The Fulton County board of assessors determines property values. Then the tax commissioner’s office certifies the digest, and municipalities set their millage rates. The delay could postpone tax collections, which is why officials are hopeful the judge will grant the order.
Some Fulton officials were visibly irritated by the misstep.
“There were enough tools there to get the work done, and it didn’t get done,” said Commissioner Bob Ellis, who represents Mountain Park, Milton, and parts of Sandy Springs, Roswell and Alpharetta.
“We can’t blame the technology,” he added. “We can’t blame the system … this is unacceptable where we are, and it needs to get addressed posthaste, without excuses, but with aggressive action.”
Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney called the delay “unconscionable” during a school board meeting last week.
“Sixty percent of this (school) board’s budget comes from local taxes, and we don’t know what that number is,” Looney said. “It’s impossible to run a billion-dollar organization without having 60% of your revenue solidified.”
Looney said the district is prepared to take out a loan to pay its bills, including teachers’ salaries, if the judge denies the order.
“I’m just dismayed,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that the tax assessor and tax commissioner are in disagreement about … whether their figures are accurate or complete. I apologize to our taxpayers and to our employees for this time of uncertainty.”
Credit: abcutrer@gmail.com
Credit: abcutrer@gmail.com
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura L. Ingram will have 10 days to decide whether to grant the order. If she does, the county can begin collecting taxes on a temporary basis. In that case, property owners would most likely receive two bills: an initial bill and then an adjusted one once the digest is finalized.
“There will need to be a reconciliation process, and it could be an additional amount owed, or it could be a refund,” said Fulton County Chief Financial Government Officer Sharon Whitmore.
If Ingram grants the order, officials hope to send initial property bills out by Aug. 15, with a due date of Oct 15. Those bills would be based on 2025 millage rates.
Commission Vice Chair Khadijah Abdur-Rahman apologized to Fulton taxpayers for the delay during a July 15 meeting.
“All hands are on deck,” she said. “We have a full-court press to get this resolved, so please forgive us for this hiccup. It happened. We will do everything in our power to make sure that it does not happen again.”
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