The city of LaFayette won't be adding insult to injury when it comes to property taxes, a visible relief for the many residents in attendance at a special called meeting last week.
While other municipalities and counties in North Georgia - including Walker - are fighting higher tax rates for the 2015 budget year, the city unanimously adopted its 2015 property millage rate of 2.99 mils, the same rate since 2009.
"We're going to keep it at 2.99 mils, the same it has been for years," Mayor Andy Arnold said. "Yes it's a small amount of the city's budget, but it should be an increase of more than $20,000."
That's because there's been an increase in property values.
The city is projected to collect $435,620 from property taxes next year.
Though the city is not adjusting its own tax rate to offset the increase in property values, residents' property tax bills should not be greatly affected, Arnold said.
The increase in collected taxes for the city will be a first since the economy tanked in 2008, said Second Ward Councilman Ben Bradford.
"Our tax collections have fluctuated because of the change in property value, not the change in tax rate," Bradford said. "That's great, if you ask me. If property values are going up; that's good in my book."
All Walker County residents are facing a potential 3 mil hike on county taxes, equalling about $120 a year for property valued at $100,000.
At the recent One Walker meeting, County Sole Commissioner Bebe Heiskell apologized to county business owners for being forced to raise property taxes.
"It is a very sad thing but a very necessary thing," she told attendees at the recent luncheon on Lookout Mountain. "We've got to continue to provide services to keep people here."
If the county's proposed millage rate is passed, it would bring Walker's rate to 7.725, still below the state average. Meanwhile, Walker County is tasked with finding ways to increase revenue in the future to supplement growing expenses.
"In just the past four years our tax digest has decreased by $87 million dollars," said Heiskell. "We're really struggling to find ways to bring sales tax and tourism to our county, and that's just a must."