Henry County property owners will likely be looking at a bigger tax bill this year.
The Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted a slightly higher millage rate and, coupled with a rise in property values, county officials expect property taxes to go up by 8.89 percent in the unincorporated county. The increase is slightly less in Stockbridge (8.14 percent) while Hampton (15.36), Locust Grove (14.01) and McDonough (13.74) would see greater increases under the proposed new millage.
State law requires a series of public hearings whenever property taxes are expected to go up, either by an increase in the millage rate or a rise in the tax digest. Those hearings have been scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. as well as Thursday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m. All three hearings will be at the county administration building, 140 Henry Parkway in McDonough.
According to county officials, the tentative increase would result in a rate of 12.995 mills for the unincorporated county, 10.866 mills for McDonough, 12.995 mills for Stockbridge, 11.455 mills for Hampton and 11.439 mills for Locust Grove. That would be an increase of 1.061 mills in the unincorporated county, 1.313 mills in McDonough, .978 mills in Stockbridge, 1.524 mills in Hampton and 1.406 mills in Locust Grove.
Without this increase, the millage rate will be no more than 11.934 mills for the unincorporated county, 9.553 mills for McDonough, 12.017 mills for Stockbridge, 9.921 mills for Hampton and 10.033 mills for Locust Grove.
The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $200,000 is approximately $68.97 for the unincorporated county, $85.34 for McDonough, $63.57 for Stockbridge, $99.06 for Hampton and $91.39 for Locust Grove. For non-homestead property with a fair market value of $300,000 it would be about $127.32 for the unincorporated county, $157.56 for McDonough, $117.36 for Stockbridge, $182.88 for Hampton and $168.72 for Locust Grove.
The county millage has been unchanged at 12.733 for three consecutive years, after being lowered from 14.298 in 2014 and 13.873 in 2015.
