Brookhaven’s Proposed 40% Tax-Rate Jump Is Not a 40% Increase in the Total Tax Bill
Brookhaven plans to raise its city tax rate by 40%, but this does not mean a 40% increase on the total property tax bill. The hike would add about $395 annually for an $800,000 home, reflecting only the city’s portion of the tax bill.
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A proposed property-tax increase in Brookhaven is producing an alarming number: 40%.
The Brookhaven City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday, June 23, on raising the city’s maintenance and operations millage rate from 2.74 mills to 3.85 mills. That is an increase of about 40.5% in the municipal tax rate, which has remained unchanged since 2015.
But it does not mean Brookhaven homeowners will see their entire property-tax bill rise by 40%.
That distinction matters well beyond Brookhaven. As cities across North Fulton, South Forsyth and Gwinnett move through another budget and property-tax season, residents may encounter similar announcements involving millage rates, rollback rates and legally required notices of “tax increases.” The numbers can sound much larger — or smaller — than the amount that eventually appears on an individual bill.
What the Brookhaven Increase Would Cost
Georgia generally taxes property at 40% of its fair market value, after applicable exemptions. A mill represents $1 in tax for every $1,000 of taxable assessed value.
Brookhaven’s proposal would increase the city operating rate from 2.74 to 3.85 mills. The city calculates that the increase would add approximately $394.56 to the annual tax bill of a homesteaded property with a fair market value of $800,000.
That is roughly $30 more per month.
The city’s calculation compares the proposed rate with the rollback rate of 2.617 mills. The rollback rate is the rate that would theoretically produce the same amount of revenue from existing property after changes in the tax digest.
Brookhaven’s city government is also only one of several taxing authorities appearing on a homeowner’s bill. County government and the school district typically account for much larger portions. Brookhaven officials have said municipal taxes represent approximately 7% to 8% of the average homeowner’s total property-tax bill.
The proposal is therefore substantial at the city level, but it is not a 40% increase in the complete bill.
Why Brookhaven Says It Needs More Revenue
Brookhaven adopted a $42.7 million general fund budget for 2026, an increase of $4.5 million, or 11.8%, from the previous year.
City leaders have pointed to higher personnel, fuel, infrastructure and service costs. Police operations alone consume more than one-third of the city’s operating budget. Brookhaven has also maintained a homestead valuation freeze that protects established homeowners from increases in their city taxable values but limits the additional revenue the city receives as property values rise.
Residents now face the familiar suburban question: How much are they willing to pay to maintain police staffing, parks, roads, sidewalks and other services?
The answer becomes more difficult when housing costs, insurance premiums, association fees and everyday expenses are already increasing.
The North Atlanta Comparison
There is no comparable 40% municipal rate proposal currently facing homeowners in Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton or Suwanee. Recent decisions in those cities illustrate several other ways property taxes can move.
Johns Creek built its current fiscal-year budget around the rollback rate. In 2025, the City Council ultimately adopted a rate of 3.492 mills after initially advertising a higher rate.
Milton lowered its 2025 operating rate to 4.193 mills, its lowest municipal rate since incorporation. Alpharetta’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget keeps its rate at 5.75 mills for the 2026 tax year.
Suwanee has maintained a rate of 4.93 mills for more than a decade. Yet the city’s most recent budget described that unchanged rate as a 3.88% property-tax increase over the rollback rate because the value of the tax digest had grown.
That is why “the rate stayed the same” does not always mean the tax collection stayed the same. When assessments rise, a city can collect additional revenue without increasing its stated millage rate. Conversely, a city can reduce its rate and some homeowners may still receive higher bills because of reassessments or changes in exemptions.
The Number Homeowners Should Watch
For North Atlanta homeowners, the most useful comparison is not simply this year’s millage rate against last year’s.
The better questions are how the proposed rate compares with the rollback rate, whether the home’s taxable assessment changed, which exemptions were applied and how much of the total bill belongs to the city rather than the county or school system.
Brookhaven’s proposal is unusually large when measured as a percentage of the previous city rate. It may become an important test of how much additional taxation residents will accept in exchange for maintaining suburban services.
For homeowners elsewhere in metro Atlanta, it is also a reminder to look beyond the headline percentage. The difference between a tax-rate increase and a total tax-bill increase can amount to thousands of dollars in public debate — but only hundreds on the actual bill.
If you’ve been following growth and change around here, these stories are worth a look too.
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