Cobb's Property Tax Hike Means Different Things for Smyrna, Vinings

Cobb County commissioners night to increase the county millage rate from 9.6 mills to 11.11 mills.

So that means bigger property tax bills for everybody in Cobb County, right?

Well, not necessarily.

Even property owners in the neighboring communities of Smyrna and Vinings will see different outcomes when their county tax bills arrive.

The county's tax increase breaks down to 7.72 mills for the general fund, 3.06 mills for the fire fund and 0.33 mills for debt service.

However, property owners inside the Smyrna city limits will only see their county tax bill rise to 8.05 mills, not 11.11 mills. Cobb County Tax Commissioner Gail Downing explained why. 

“If you are within the city limits of Smyrna, you do not pay fire taxes to Cobb County,” she said. “Those fire taxes are paid to the city of Smyrna on the city of Smyrna tax bill. Therefore you would not pay that increased fire millage rate to Cobb County.”

Smyrna's council voted in June to keep the city's property tax rate the same as last year.

Vinings property owners will see the full increase in the county tax rate because they receive fire service from Cobb County.

Also, while the property tax rate, or millage, is going up, Downing noted that some property owners may end up paying less in taxes than last year because the assessed value of their home or business property has declined.

The actual amount of a property owner's tax bill depends on a variety of factors, including whether the property qualifies for a homestead exemption.

The new millage increase is for the 2011 tax year. Those bills go out Aug. 15 and are due Oct. 15.

Do you expect to have a bigger or smaller property tax bill this year?