The City of Rincon is considering a proposal to reintroduce a municipal property tax for the first time in nearly three decades.
The city has launched a public education effort ahead of the three statutorily required public hearings and on Wednesday released an infographic for residents explaining specifics pertaining to the legal notices posted to date.
According to the city, the proposed municipal millage rate is 2.323 mills, up 2.323 mills from the current millage rate of 0.00. The city has operated without a property tax since 1998.
Advertisement of a “100% Tax Increase”
One point city officials addressed directly is the wording required by Georgia law.
Because Rincon’s current municipal rollback rate is 0.000 mills, any proposed millage rate above zero is legally considered a 100% increase over the rollback rate. The language is mandated under Georgia’s Truth in Taxation law whenever a proposed millage rate exceeds the calculated rollback rate.
Why City Officials Are Pursuing a Property Tax
The city said its current system relies primarily on fees, which means residents generally pay the same amount regardless of property value or ability to pay.
City leaders believe a property tax would provide a more stable and predictable funding source while distributing the cost of municipal services more equitably based on taxable property values.
The city also angled that that a millage rate offers greater transparency because Georgia law requires public notice and multiple public hearings before any increase can be adopted.
Estimated Cost
Using the proposed rate, the city provided examples of what property owners could expect to pay.
- A home with a fair market value of $150,000 would pay approximately $139.38 per year in municipal property taxes.
- A non-homestead property with a fair market value of $350,000 would owe approximately $325.22 annually.
Public Hearings on Deck
The infographic emphasized that the rate is a proposal and that council will ‘consider public input’ before voting.
The public hearings are scheduled for:
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, August 17, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, August 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
All three hearings will take place at the Rincon Police Department Council Chambers at 107 W. 17th Street in Rincon.
