Forsyth County leaders are planning to keep the same total property tax rate for next year. This rate helps pay for three things:
- Maintenance & Operations (M&O) – This helps run the county.
- Fire Department – Helps pay for firefighters and fire trucks.
- Bond – This helps pay back money the county borrowed for big projects.
Even though the total rate isn’t changing, some parts are going up or down a little.
What’s Changing?
- The M&O rate stays the same: 4.791
- The Fire rate goes up: from 2.505 to 2.805
- The Bond rate goes down: from 0.600 to 0.300
- Total rate stays the same: 7.896
The county’s budget for next year is still being worked on, and this tax money will help fund it.
Why Are Taxes Going Up for Some People?
Because more people are building homes or fixing up their houses, the county has more property to tax. Even though the rate isn’t going up, the value of many homes is going up, so some people might pay more.
- Forsyth County’s total property value went up 9.54%.
- 3.46% is from new homes or buildings.
- 6.08% is from older homes being worth more now.
If your home didn’t go up in value or you have a homestead exemption, you might not see a higher bill—or your bill could even go down for some parts.
You can read more about your taxes here: www.forsythco.com/property-taxes
What is a Public Hearing?
It’s a meeting where anyone can speak up or ask questions. The county must hold three public hearings because the tax rate is more than what Georgia law calls the “rollback” rate (the rate that would keep tax money the same even if property values changed).
When Are the Hearings?
You can go to any of these:
- July 22, 2025 at 5 p.m.
- August 7, 2025 at 11 a.m.
- August 7, 2025 at 6 p.m.
All meetings are at:
Forsyth County Administration Building
110 E. Main Street, Suite 220, Cumming, GA
The final vote on the tax rate will happen:
August 7, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Pros and Cons of This Plan:
Pros:
- No total tax rate increase – The overall number stays the same.
- Some people won’t see a higher bill, especially those with homestead exemptions.
- Fire Department gets more funding – Good for safety!
- Bond rate goes down – County is paying off some debt.
Cons:
- Some homeowners may pay more if their home value went up a lot.
- Fire rate increase means part of the tax bill is going up, even if the total rate is steady.
- Public hearings might be hard for everyone to attend due to timing.
Remember: Your exact tax bill depends on your home’s value and any exemptions you have. Everyone is welcome to attend the public hearings and ask questions or share their thoughts.
