Alpharetta and Milton property owners could receive two tax bills this fall after a staffing gap in Fulton County's mapping operation left 292 land packages unprocessed, stalling the entire 2026 tax digest.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted on July 15 to petition Superior Court for permission to collect property taxes on an interim basis while the digest remains unfinished. Milton's city council has passed a resolution joining that petition. Ken Jerrard, city attorney for both Milton and Alpharetta, said the Alpharetta City Council is considering a similar resolution.

A hearing is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, in the Superior Court of Fulton County.

What went wrong

The 292 unprocessed land packages represent about 1,000 parcels, many of them commercial. Commissioner Bridget Thorne said the delay stems from only one county employee having been trained to use the Esri platform, the geographic information system that integrates maps and records for tax purposes. Chief Information Officer Keven Kerrigan said the county is working to add more users.

The county has not provided an estimate for when the digest will be delivered.

What it means for residents

If a judge approves the petition, property owners would be billed by Saturday, August 15, with payment due Thursday, October 15, using the 2025 millage rate. Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore said homeowners would later receive a second notice showing any additional amount owed or a refund once the final 2026 rate is set.

Without court approval, the county risks missing debt payments and employee payroll. Its credit rating could be jeopardized. Cities that depend on the digest to set their own millage rates cannot move forward.

"The purpose of the resolution is to prevent a disruption before one occurs," Milton City Manager Steven Krokoff said, adding that the move is procedural and not a sign Milton is experiencing financial difficulties.

Schools feel the squeeze

Fulton County Schools, which draws more than 60% of its budget from local tax revenue according to district figures, faces its own cash-flow crunch. Brian Noyes, the district's chief communications officer, said a prolonged delay could force the system to consider short-term financing to meet obligations while continuing to serve students.

The school system adopted a $2.3 billion budget for 2026-27 that already carries a $56.9 million deficit. The Board of Education must approve its millage rate by Tuesday, September 1, but cannot do so without the completed digest.

Commissioner Bob Ellis called the situation unacceptable: "You had one job and it didn't get done. That's a failure that impacts us and all of our jurisdictions."

What's next

Johns Creek's council had a vote on joining the petition scheduled for Monday, July 27. The Superior Court hearing on Tuesday, August 4, at 4 p.m. will determine whether interim billing moves forward. Residents can monitor the case through Fulton County Superior Court records.