Dear Milton Residents:
By now many of you have likely received your 2017 property tax assessments that were mailed by the
Fulton County Board of Assessors
earlier this week. Like you, we are experiencing a bit of a shock at this year's assessed property values. Milton residents along with many other Fulton County residents may be seeing an increase in valuations, some increases being significant according to a recent statement issued by Fulton County.
As you know, the assessed property value is what local governments use to calculate a resident's tax bill after setting the annual millage rate.
While the City of Milton takes administrative responsibility for setting the city's millage rate, and mailing and collecting property taxes for residents living in the city of Milton, the Fulton County Board of Assessors is responsible for assessing the actual value of the property and processing any assessment appeals submitted by Fulton County residents.
It's my understanding from Fulton County officials that jumps in assessed values are being attributed to overall increases in property values following the 2008 recession, and the ability of the Fulton County Tax Assessor's Office to keep up with those rising property values along the way. As a result, some homeowners are now seeing a more dramatic increase or jump in their assessed value for 2017. County officials have also noted the need to bring its overall property assessments in line or face possible fines from the state of Georgia.
First and foremost, I want to remind our residents that they can appeal their property tax assessment with the Fulton County Board of Assessors. If you believe the assessed value isn't accurate, taking the time to submit an appeal may make a difference in the long run. The deadline for submitting your appeal is July 10, and you can submit an appeal online or submit your appeal manually by mail. Complete details on how to appeal as well as contact information are available below.
While we recognize the importance of accurate valuations and state compliance, we're naturally concerned about how large jumps in value will ultimately impact our residents. We've already heard from a number of residents about this year's assessment and we're reaching out to our county officials to see what more can be offered about how we got to this point.
Options for submitting your appeal to the Fulton County Board of Tax Assessors include:
Residents with questions regarding the appeal process must contact the Fulton County Appeal Resolution Center for assistance by calling 404-612-6440 and selecting option 1.
Sincerely,
Joe Lockwood, Mayor
