Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton says that most Chattooga County taxpayers should see a slight decrease in their property tax bills this year. 

Tax Commissioner Hampton is not responsible for setting the property tax, or assessing property for taxation, but she is responsible for collecting those taxes before the end of the year.

Hampton told WZQZ News with the Chattooga Board of Education’s tentative millage rate, taxpayer’s bills for that portion should match what came out on their assessment notice earlier this year.  If there has been no change in value from last year, a taxpayer would pay the same amount of school taxes that they paid in 2020.  Meanwhile, Commissioner Elsberry has announced a slight roll back in the millage rate for the county’s portion, which will result in a lower total property tax bill for many Chattooga County property owners.

Tax Commissioner Hampton said, “It was just a strange year for digests all over Georgia.  I know several counties have seen the same oddities that we have this year.  A huge loss was seen in industrial and personal property values with some gains in residential values.”

Hampton added, that while most taxpayers will see a slightly lower property tax bill this year, each individual case is different.  Some people’s property may have seen an higher increase in value in the assessment over last year, which would mean those taxpayers could possibly see a slightly higher tax bill because of the value increase.

Both the Board of Education and the county commissioner will be officially setting the millage rate in the upcoming days.