The Rome City Commission held the first of three required public hearings this week on the city’s proposed 2026 property tax increase, with officials emphasizing that while the overall millage rate would remain unchanged, state law still requires the increase to be advertised as a tax increase.
City Manager Sammy Rich presented a five-page overview of the proposed 2026 millage rate. 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.
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.
During the discussion, Commissioner Mark Cochran questioned the proposed increase in the capital millage, saying it appeared to exceed the rate of inflation. Rich responded that reductions in the city’s lease-purchase program have affected capital spending and said he would provide a more detailed explanation during the remaining public hearings.
Cochran also questioned whether taxpayers should be asked to contribute more toward the city’s maintenance and operations budget when health insurance claims have improved this year. Rich acknowledged that while health insurance claims had increased over the past three years, costs are currently tracking better for 2026.
Commissioner Craig McDaniel observed that housing values have softened and that increased housing inventory has helped drive prices lower. He added that he prefers local governments rely more heavily on sales tax revenue rather than property taxes to fund operations.
During the public hearing, two residents addressed the commission.
Floyd County Commissioner-Elect Shane Cowan encouraged city leaders to identify operational savings that could reduce the need for a property tax increase. He also pointed out that while most homesteaded properties are seeing lower assessments, owners of non-homesteaded properties will bear a larger share of the increase. Cowan urged commissioners to adopt the rollback millage rate.
Mark Wall also spoke against the proposal, saying the increase outpaces inflation and encouraging the city to find ways to reduce the tax burden. He noted that neighboring Polk County is facing an even larger tax increase.
Following public comments, Mayor Bojo closed the hearing and announced that the second public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, during a special called meeting. The third and final public hearing, along with the vote to adopt the 2026 millage rate, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. that evening during the regular City Commission meeting.
