10/11/2026
Byron Proposes Lower Millage Rate Despite Required “Tax Increase” Notice
Current rate: 9.000 mills
Proposed rate: 8.000 mills
Calculated rollback/FLOST rate: 7.473 mills
Residents will soon see a legally required notice stating that the City of Byron is proposing a property tax increase. While that wording may sound concerning, the City is actually proposing to lower its millage rate.
The current millage rate is 9.000 mills, and the proposed rate is 8.000 mills. However, the calculated rollback rate associated with the new FLOST revenue is approximately 7.473 mills.
Because the proposed 8.000-mill rate is higher than the calculated rollback rate, Georgia law requires the City to advertise the difference as a tax increase—even though the proposed rate is lower than the current 9.000-mill rate.
The City is not proposing to reduce the rate all the way to 7.473 mills this year because only about five months of FLOST collections are available to help determine how much revenue the new tax will reliably generate.
Sales tax collections can fluctuate based on consumer spending and economic conditions, and the City does not yet have a full year of collection history. Reducing the millage rate too aggressively based on limited data could create uncertainty in future revenues needed to provide City services.
The proposed 8.000-mill rate allows the City to provide immediate property tax relief while taking a cautious approach during the first year of FLOST collections.
While the required notice uses the term “tax increase” because the proposed rate is above the calculated rollback rate, the City’s actual proposed millage rate is lower than the current rate.
As Byron receives a full 12 months of FLOST collections, the City will have better information to evaluate future millage reductions while maintaining reliable funding for essential services.
If you have any questions on any of this, please reach out to City Administrator, Tiffany Sandefur by email [email protected] or phone 478-294-9176.
