No increase for WR millage rate

Warner Robins Mayor and Council announced last week its intention to increase the 2020 property taxes it will levy this year by 0.21 percentage over the rollback millage rate for City of Warner Robins, Houston County residents and 3.44 percentage over the rollback millage rate for City of Warner Robins, Peach County residents. Each year, the board of tax assessors is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county.

Required by state law, mayor and council are to hold three public hearings. The first two hearings were held Monday at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Both were held virtually as a safety measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents had the opportunity to submit a question by email or phone call prior to the hearings.

At Monday afternoon’s hearing, Mayor Randy Toms said there were no questions, but more so statements expressing that there should be no tax increase. Toms then went on to present a few facts about the city’s intentions to increase the 2020 property taxes.

“The millage rate will remain the same as last year’s at 9.98 mills, and in fact, this has remained the same rate for the last three years,” Toms said. “The 0.21 increase for Warner Robins, Houston County residents, and the 3.44 increase for Warner Robins, Peach County residents will only affect people building new properties or building an addition onto their house. The majority of residents are not going to see any difference at all.”

Toms said for those who are building new properties or adding onto homes in Warner Robins, Houston County, with a fair market value of $125,000, the tax increase will be approximately $0.55 per year; a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $150,000 is $1.26 per year. In Warner Robins, Peach County with a fair market value of $125,000, the tax increase will be approximately $7.49 per year; a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $150,000 is $17.28 per year. Toms also said they estimate that increase will bring in around $455,582.00, which will go directly into the general fund.

The last public hearing will be held via teleconference on the city of Warner Robins’ Facebook page, on September 21 at 12 p.m. Residents can submit questions or input to publichearing@wrga.gov or mailing Attn: City Clerk, P.O. Box 8629; Warner Robins, GA 31095 by Friday September 18, 2020.

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