Dougherty County property tax public hearings rescheduled

ALBANY – After more last-minute scrambling, the property tax payment schedule for Dougherty County taxpayers is coming into focus. 

Prior to setting a tax millage rate, on which the amount taxpayers owe is calculated, the Dougherty County Commission is required to hold three public hearings since the 2025 rate is set to include an increase.

The proposed countywide millage rate for 2025 represents a 16% increase over the rollback rate. 

The bottom line is that for the 2025 tax year, the numbers add up to a $146 increase for homeowners with homestead exemption on a $125,000 property, while that number is $152 for those whose homes are not designated as tax-exempt.

Taxpayers in unincorporated Dougherty County will see a smaller hike on the portion of taxes that fund services, including fire protection and recreation, on the special tax district portion of their bills.

Residents can weigh in on the proposed increase during the public hearings, two of which are scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in Room 120 at the Albany-Dougherty Government Center. The third public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 23 in Room 100, county Tax Director Shonna Josey said.

Currently, the scheduled date for tax bills, which also include city of Albany and Dougherty County School System taxes, to be mailed is the last week of the month, Josey said.

In recent weeks, many Dougherty County residents have just been wondering when they will arrive, she said.

“We have people calling and saying they lost their bill,” she said. “I tell them you didn’t lose your bill; it hasn’t been mailed yet.”

The late billing also could cause some concern for individuals who itemize local taxes on income tax returns, but there is a window in which those taxes can be mailed before the end of the year for calculation in 2025 federal and state returns. With the bills being mailed so late, and during the hectic holiday mailing season, they may not hit resident’s mailboxes until well into January.

“If everything goes well, I would say they will be available online on the 19th,” Josey told Dougherty County commissioners during a Monday meeting.

At that time, tax bills will be available for viewing or printing. Taxpayers also may pay online, but it will come with a 3% convenience fee attached.

Much of the delay has been due to complying with legislation enacted by the Georgia legislature and approved by voters in fall 2024, the tax director said. 

House Bill 581 created a floating homestead exemption that prevents the assessed value of property from increasing more than the consumer price index each year. 

Like the city of Albany, the county opted in to providing that tax relief, with the impact being a reduction in taxable value of property this year of $951,000. If the county’s millage rate were to be left unchanged, that would mean tax collections would fall about 1.4% from the previous year.

To assist residents who want to take care of business this year on the tax front, Josey is planning to have extended hours during the final days of the year. Plans are to have the tax office open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Dec. 24, 29, 30 and 31.

“I would offer my apologies and say I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” Josey said. “Due to House Bill 581 and the changes that had to be made, both for our assessors and for us, along with software changes, we had the delay. We’re working on it.”

Taxpayers will have 60 days from the date bills are mailed to pay without incurring a penalty, so that will mean a deadline of March 2 due to Feb. 28 falling on a weekend, she said.

“We’re getting numerous calls about it,” Josey said. “A lot of taxpayers are concerned about paying on time. We want to reassure them they have until March 2.”