TUCKER, Ga. (June 27, 2019) – At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Tucker leaders voted unanimously to approve the City’s first millage rate. While some may be quick to call out a tax increase in the fiscally responsible new City, the reality is property owners are going to see their tax rate go down.
“We are taking over taxing authority for the parks from DeKalb County and we’re doing it for less than DeKalb County was charging for,” Mayor Frank Auman explained.
Tucker’s millage rate will be 0.9 mils, with that money going to fund Parks and Recreation in the City. For 2019, DeKalb County will be taxing at a rate of 1.458 mils. That figure will now go to zero on Tucker tax bills.
“It’s a big step for us in the development of the City,” Auman said. “Up to now, the City’s had no property tax, no ad valorem tax, no taxes of its own. That was true and that was part of the plan. This step takes us into a place where we’re collecting our own taxes to, in this case, fund our park operations.”
Since assuming responsibility for its parks from DeKalb County in 2018, Tucker’s Parks and Recreation Department has been quick to repair and upgrade parks amenities that needed attention. This is evident in new playgrounds at Henderson, Kelley Cofer and Montreal Parks, as well as at the Tucker Recreation Center. They have also worked to make significant cosmetic and infrastructure improvements to the aging Rec Center including new HVAC units, fresh coats of paint and security cameras. Kelley Cofer pool has seen upgrades, including a new splash pad installed this year through a partnership with DeKalb County.
In the coming months, more improvements are on the way including lights on the tennis courts at Henderson Park, repairing and expanding the dock at Lake Erin, renovating the kitchen and bathrooms at the Rec Center and installing parking spaces at Smoke Rise Park.
