(CANTON, Georgia, Aug. 7, 2026)—At their first meeting in August, Canton City Council unanimously adopted a property tax cut by holding the tax rate steady at 5.25 mils.

"Maintaining the lowest millage rate in Canton’s history is a testament to years of thoughtful planning, disciplined financial management, and a willingness to make responsible decisions that position our city for long-term success," said Mayor Bill Grant.

A revenue‑neutral rate is the property tax millage rate that keeps the City’s total tax revenue the same as the previous year, even if property values have gone up or down. By holding the millage rate steady while assessed values decreased, the City effectively lowered the tax bill for homeowners compared to the previous year. For the average home valued at $450,000, the tax bill would decrease by $4.68.

The City also continues to provide generous homestead exemptions to its residents, including the senior and floating homestead exemptions. These exemptions translate to over $2.3 million in tax savings, reducing homeowner property tax bills by hundreds of dollars annually.

"I am deeply proud of the fiscal discipline and servant leadership demonstrated each day by our elected officials and City staff," continued Grant. "Their unwavering commitment to responsible stewardship has made it possible to deliver yet another historic tax cut while preserving the exceptional services our residents and businesses deserve."

The City continues to make up the smallest portion of a Canton resident’s total tax bill. Of the total tax paid, 62% goes to the school district, 20% goes to the County, and 18% is paid to the City.

After adopting the millage rate, the Council decided to delay approving the City's Fiscal Year 2027 budget totaling $98.3 million. The FY 2027 budget is based on maintaining the City’s current property tax rate of 5.250 mills; however, the Cherokee County Fire District Tax Rate was approved by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 with an increase from 2.888 mills to 3.023.

"The fire district rate specifically is important to the City because our entire digest before exemptions is multiplied by that fire tax rate to calculate what our payment is going to be for fire services to the county on behalf of our Canton property owners," City Manager Billy Peppers said. "We need to true up our proposed budget with what we now know about the fire taxes and the costs. Both this and the millage rate are very important data points that will directly impact the budget."

Peppers stated that the projected increase in fire service costs from last year to this year is approximately $720,000. This difference will be found in revising the proposed FY 2027 Budget.



"At a time when the cost of living continues to challenge families and employers, we recognize that every dollar matters," Grant said. "That understanding guides every budget decision we make. We believe government should live within its means, spend wisely, and always respect the trust taxpayers place in us."

City staff will return at the Council's Aug. 20 meeting to present a revised budget for approval.

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CONTACT

Lauren Johnson,

Communications Manager

lauren.johnson@cantonga.gov

770.704.1549