Will Rome's Property Tax Rate Change? Here's What We Know

The Rome City Commission is slated to decide Monday if it will keep the city’s property tax rate the same for 2024 or follow a committee’s recommendation to lower it.

Commissioners will meet at 5 p.m. for a caucus that includes a presentation from the United Way of Rome & Floyd County. Their regular meeting — including a public hearing on the tax rate — starts at 6:30 p.m. Both sessions are in City Hall, 601 Broad St.

The board has advertised a property tax rate of 26.45 mills, the same as in 2023. The tax is broken down into 7.75 mills for general maintenance and operations; 1.75 mills for capital improvements; and 16.75 mills for Rome City Schools.

However, the city’s finance committee is recommending a reduction of 0.25 mills in light of rising property values. The reduction would come from the general M&O allocation for city services. The committee is made up of Commissioners Jim Bojo, Jamie Doss and Wayne Robinson. Mayor Craig McDaniel has also indicated he favors a reduction.

The decrease to 26.20 mills is still expected to bring in more money as the overall value of property in the city has risen. The school system, which would not be affected by the cut, is projected to see its revenue increase about $2.1 million, to $30.2 million.

Because the proposed rate would generate more revenue, state law requires three public hearings to provide opportunity for input. The second hearing is set for 10 a.m. on July 18. The third will be just before the board formally adopts the rate at its regular 6 p.m. meeting on July 22.

Also on the City Commission’s agenda for Monday is the renewal of its lease for the Etowah River boat ramp, dubbed Dixon Landing, at Grizzard Park.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources built the ramp in 1999 and gave the city a 25-year lease that expired on May 26. A new 25-year lease up for adoption maintains the provisions that give the city control with no rent payments.

Doss, who chairs the city’s public works committee, also is expected to announce that the Mount Berry Trail and AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway Signage ribbon cutting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the AdventHealth Stadium east side parking lot trailhead.