Taxpayers supporting Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) will receive a reduction in their 2023 school taxes. CCPS Superintendent/CEO of Schools, Dr. Anthony Smith, and Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Ramona Bivins, are recommending to the Clayton County Board of Education a rollback of the district millage rate to 19.600 mills. This will be the first rollback in taxes since 2007.
The recommendation was based on final information on the county’s tax digest supplied by the Clayton County Tax Assessor’s office and the district’s financial position. “Based on the aforementioned items, the decision to roll back the millage rate will reflect savings to homeowners,” said Ms. Ramona Bivins, CCPS Chief Financial Officer. If approved, the savings for a home with a fair market value of $150,000 would be approximately $44, while a home with a fair market value of $250,000 would have an estimated $84 savings.
“I want to assure the taxpayers of Clayton County that their Board of Education and the leadership of the school district are constantly working to maintain a fiscally sound operation that gets the most out of every tax dollar collected,” Superintendent Smith said, “We are proud that our district is financially able to lower the millage rate for the first time in 16 years and will continue to seek ways to maintain our fiscal responsibility while benefiting our county’s residents.”
“One way has been and continues to be through our effective use of dollars raised through the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax or ESPLOST,” Dr. Smith added. “The availability of these dollars, provided through our residents' foresight at the ballot box, have allowed our district to build and maintain school facilities without placing the full responsibility directly on the county’s taxpayers.”
“Speaking for the Clayton County Board of Education, we are excited to adopt this reduced tax rate for our constituents with the knowledge that we will be able to provide appropriate educational services delivered by highly qualified teachers,” said Ms. Jessie Goree, Board Chair, representing District 3.
The proposal to roll back will not adversely affect the funding that will support the district’s approved FY 2024 budget of $641.7 million. “Even with the lower millage rate, the revenues generated will support our adopted budget for 2023-2024,” said Bivins.
The Board is scheduled to formally approve the millage rate on Monday, July 31, 2023, during its regular scheduled work session.
2023 Current Tax Digest and 5 Year History