Proposed Millage Rate Increase

For more than seven years, the City of Chamblee has held the millage rate flat while continuing to invest in public safety, parks, infrastructure, and the services our residents expect and deserve. During that time, we navigated a global pandemic and historic inflation without increasing the millage rate.

It is also important to remember that the City reduced the millage rate from 6.4 mills to 6.25 mills in 2018 and added a $20,000 homestead exemption on top of that reduction.

This year, the City Council is considering a proposed adjustment to the millage rate from 6.25 mills to 7.25 mills.

Why now?

Simply put, Chamblee is not immune to the same economic pressures impacting families and businesses across the country.

• Inflation continues to drive up the cost of nearly everything the City purchases and maintains

• Health care costs for employees have increased an average of 8% year-over-year since 2020 and 18% since 2022

• Property and liability insurance costs have risen substantially in recent years

• Public safety equipment costs have dramatically increased. For example, police vehicles that once cost approximately $50,000 five years ago now cost nearly $100,000

• Despite these pressures, the City maintained a relatively flat budget from FY2025 to FY2026 while implementing spending controls, operational reviews, and internal cost reductions

Public safety remains the City’s number-one budget priority and the largest line item in our budget. Nearly half of all City employees work in public safety roles, and those investments are producing results. Chamblee has seen double-digit reductions in crime over the last four years while continuing to strengthen police, emergency response, and community safety initiatives.

It is also important to remember that approximately 70% of Chamblee’s tax digest comes from commercial properties, helping support city services while reducing the burden placed directly on homeowners.

Additionally, the City offers homestead exemptions and senior homestead exemptions to help mitigate the impact on qualifying homeowners, particularly seniors and long-term residents.

At the same time, many homeowners have seen increases in their assessed property values through DeKalb County’s appraisal process, which is separate from the City’s proposed millage rate adjustment. Property values in Chamblee have increased significantly because of our location, strong economic growth, and continued investments in quality of life that have made Chamblee one of the most desirable places to live in metro Atlanta.

Over the last election cycle, I knocked on hundreds of doors across Chamblee and consistently heard that residents value the level of service our city provides and do not want to see reductions in public safety, infrastructure maintenance, parks, recreation, and other quality-of-life investments.

While Georgia law requires this proposal to be advertised as a 23.47% increase over the rollback rate, the proposal being considered is a 1 mill adjustment, which, for the average homeowner, would equal approximately $23 per month before exemptions are applied.

These are difficult decisions, and I believe residents deserve transparency, predictability, and the opportunity to be heard throughout the process.

The City of Chamblee will hold three public hearings regarding the proposed millage rate adjustment:

• Thursday, June 4 at 6:00 PM • Thursday, June 11 at 11:30 AM • Tuesday, June 16 at 6:00 PM

All hearings will take place at Chamblee City Hall, 3518 Broad Street.

I encourage residents to attend, ask questions, and stay engaged as we discuss how to responsibly maintain the services, infrastructure, and public safety investments that make Chamblee such a special place to live.

Stay informed. Stay involved.