MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — Monroe County Commissioners voted Monday to decrease the millage rate by 1.5 mills, also cutting the county property tax for 2024.
The move could save some property owners hundreds of dollars.
Ronnie Daniel is a homeowner and business owner at the Dairy Queen on North Lee Street in Monroe County.
“I said, 'Thank the Lord, thank the Lord,'” Daniel said.
He says he pays taxes on his business and home, so the mill reduction brings sweet relief.
“Everything that we do in my small business costs more and more every year so now we are finally getting a little help," Daniel said.
Monroe County Commissioners say the tax cut will result in $10 million in SPLOST funds surplus. They say $8 million will pay off fire truck and police car loans while $2 million will go toward reducing property taxes. Commissioner Eddie Rowland says for the past six years they've just tried to be smart with money.
“We have reduced the millage rate every year since 2018," Rowland said. "It just shows that we are using money wisely."
He says the 10.803 figure is the lowest he's seen in decades, but he's mostly excited about paying down some of the debt they owe.
“We're just pleased to do it and it's equally important to pay down debt,” Rowland said.
For homeowners like Daniel, he believes this will be beneficial to the community.
“It's about money, it's about paying less money," Daniel said. "We all think we're overtaxed - I mean, everywhere."
Under the proposed millage rate, a Monroe County homeowner with a home valued at $300,000 would have their property tax bill reduced by $130.