It is important for our stakeholders to understand that despite some property owners’ increase in projected taxes, our millage rate has not increased. In fact, our millage rate has remained the same, or lower, for the past eight years. The increases come from a change in the assessed value of the homeowner's property, which is set by the Fulton County Tax Assessor – not the school board. The Fulton County Board of Education’s role is to set a millage rate (a combined general operations and debt service rate) that serves as a guide for levying school taxes. The actual taxes are collected by the Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s Office.

Our proposed millage rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 is 18.483, which is the lowest in the metro Atlanta region. When developing our FY 2018 budget and proposed millage rate, we estimated a 6% increase in the tax digest based on an early estimated prediction from the Chief Tax Assessor, who appeared before our board in March. The school board expects to again keep the millage rate at or below 18.483 for the FY 2018 budget, but we have not yet received the consolidated (final) tax digest from the Tax Commissioner’s office to finalize that intention. We hope to receive those final numbers very soon, but we do not have an expected date of release.

Once we receive the consolidated tax digest, we will advertise the five-year history of the millage and the public hearing dates, if needed, in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; then, our board will decide the final millage rate, which will be published widely. In the meantime, we want to remind stakeholders that final tax bills have not yet been calculated by the Tax Commissioner’s Office, and any concerns about property assessment should be addressed to the Fulton County Tax Assessor’s Office. Their office has published several meeting dates for community members to receive information and ask questions.

The Fulton County School Board will continue to be fiscally responsible stewards of our resources.

Our proposed millage rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 is 18.483, which is the lowest in the metro Atlanta region.

Fiscal Year 2018 Millage Rate and Property Tax AssessmentsThe Fulton County Board of Education is aware of the community’s concerns about the 2017 property assessments that recently were mailed by the Fulton County Tax Assessor’s Office.

6201 Powers Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 | 470-254-3600 | www.fultonschools.org

Our millage rates have not increased. In fact, our millage rate has remained the same, or lower, for the past eight years.

What is the millage rate that is set by Fulton County Board of Education?The proposed millage rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 is 18.483, which is the lowest in the metro Atlanta region. Our millage rate has not increased since 2010.

If the millage rate has not changed, then why am I seeing a tax increase on my property assessment?Property tax notices recently were mailed by the Fulton County Tax Assessor's Office, and some homeowners are reporting that they have received higher assessment values. The increases come from a change in the assessed value of the homeowner's property, which is set by the Fulton County Tax Assessor. It is important for our stakeholders to understand that school tax rates have not increased, and have remained the same, or lower, for the past eight years.

As a Fulton County resident, will I see my property tax increase?Maybe. Homes that have decreased in value or stayed the same will not see a tax levy increase if the millage rate remains at 18.483. Only homes that have increased in value will see a tax increase.

Does the Fulton County Board of Education have any influence on a citizen's property value?No. The Fulton County Board of Education adopts the millage rate; however, the Fulton County Board of Assessors determines property values.

Is the notice I received my property tax bill?No. The information received by Fulton County Tax Assessor's Office is a notice of the property's assessed value and an estimation of applicable taxes. The actual tax bill will come from the Fulton County Tax Commis-sioner later this year, often around October.

Does the Fulton County Board of Education collect the taxes?No. The Office of the Fulton County Tax Commissioner creates and collects all tax bills, whether it be for personal property (such as cars) or for real estate property. The Fulton County Board of Education is a sepa-rate entity, and its role is to set the millage rate used by the Tax Commissioner to collect the taxes used to fund schools.

What percentage of the Fulton County Schools budget comes from property taxes collected? Approximately 56% of the school district's general fund budget is derived from property taxes.

Was the school board aware that property assessments might increase?There are almost always changes in property assessments since the Fulton County Tax Assessor annually assigns value to all property being taxed. In some cases, home values might go up, whereas others might go down. Some may stay the same. Every year the school board receives an update from the Tax Assessor's office to guide its planning for the upcoming budget. In March 2017, the Chief Tax Assessor appeared before the school board and reported an estimated 6% increase in tax assessments. That figure was used to guide the school system in developing its FY 2018 budget and the tentative millage rate of 18.483.

When will the millage rate be finalized?The Fulton County Board of Education has not yet received the consolidated (final) tax digest from the Tax Commissioner's office. We hope to receive those final numbers very soon, but as of now, we do not have a date of release.

What happens next?Once the final tax digest is received, the district will review state law O.C.G.A § 48-5-32.1 to evaluate and determine the need for millage public hearings in order to calculate the final FY 2018 millage rate. We will then advertise the five year history of the millage and the public hearing dates, if needed, in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and our board will decide the final millage rate later this summer.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThe Fulton County Board of Education (FCBOE) annually sets a millage rate (a combined General Operations and Debt Service rate). This combined rate is used by the Fulton County Tax Commis-s ioner 's Office, along with assessment values, to determine taxes for the coming calendar year.

6201 Powers Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 | 470-254-3600 | www.fultonschools.org

Tax Levied Per Pupil

Net Taxes Levied with Student EnrollmentMillage Rate History Information

6.02%

-0.22%

-3.15% -2.54%

-0.26%

1.05%

6.73%

3.15%

-4.00%

-2.00%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

86,00087,00088,00089,00090,00091,00092,00093,00094,00095,00096,00097,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017Enrollment Net % Tax Inc/(Dec)

Net Taxes Levied is in thousands.

Fiscal Year Enrollment Net Taxes Levied Tax Levied Per Pupil Net % Tax Inc/Dec

2010 89,835 542,112 6,035 6.02%2011 91,533 540,894 5,909 -0.22%2012 92,202 523,849 5,682 -3.15%2013 93,611 510,540 5,454 -2.54%2014 94,720 509,225 5,376 -0.26%2015 95,065 514,554 5,413 1.05%2016 95,559 549,174 5,747 6.73%2017 96,063 566,453 5,897 3.15%

$6,035

$5,909

$5,682

$5,454

$5,376

$5,413

$5,747$5,897

$5,000

$5,200

$5,400

$5,600

$5,800

$6,000

$6,200

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Fiscal Year Tax Levied Per Pupil Millage Rate

2010 $6,035 17.5022011 $5,909 18.5022012 $5,682 18.5022013 $5,454 18.5022014 $5,376 18.5022015 $5,413 18.5022016 $5,747 18.5022017 $5,897 18.483

This graph shows the history of the tax levy per pupil. Based on this graph it shows that we have maintained below 2010 for the past seven years. The increases in recent years were mostly to cover the rise in benefit cost and compensation for teachers and other staff.

6201 Powers Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 | 470-254-3600 | www.fultonschools.org