The Rome City Commission held its second public hearing Monday regarding the proposed 2026 tax increase, with no members of the public speaking either in favor of or against the proposal.

The special-called meeting was held at 10 a.m. in the City Commission Chambers at Rome City Hall, located at 601 Broad Street.

The commission then held the second required public hearing concerning the proposed 2026 tax increase. No one addressed the commission during the hearing, either in support of or opposition to the proposed increase.

The public hearing was subsequently closed.

There were also no statements or questions from commissioners or city staff regarding the proposed 2026 tax millage rate.

A third public hearing on the proposed tax increase is scheduled for the Rome City Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, August 10.

The commission is also expected to hold the public hearing and consider adoption of the resolution setting the actual 2026 tax millage rate during that meeting.

Under the proposal, the city’s total millage rate would remain at 26.25 mills, the same rate adopted for 2025. However, the individual components of the rate would change. The City of Rome’s maintenance and operations (M&O) millage would increase from 7.75 mills to 8.25 mills, while the capital millage would rise from 1.75 mills to 2.00 mills. The Rome City Schools millage would decrease from 16.75 mills to 16.00 mills.

City Manager Sammy Rich said that 77 percent of the city’s 5,142 homesteaded properties — 3,959 parcels — experienced a decrease in assessed value for 2026. Overall, the city’s tax digest increased by approximately 1.44 percent, which was below the city’s anticipated growth of about 4 percent.

Rich also noted that more than 80 percent of the city’s annual expenditures are devoted to personnel costs. He said any significant budget reductions would require major changes to city services and the size of the municipal workforce.

He also highlighted the return of the State of Georgia’s Homestead Tax Relief Grant for 2026. The program reduces the first $18,000 of assessed value on qualifying homesteaded properties, providing additional tax relief for homeowners.

Although the city is not increasing its overall millage rate and does not plan to adopt the rollback rate, Rich explained that state law considers the proposal a “technical tax increase” because the city is collecting more revenue due to property value changes.