Alpharetta and Milton homeowners could see a higher school property-tax rate under a Fulton County Schools proposal expected to generate approximately $50 million in additional annual revenue.

Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef recommended raising the maintenance and operations rate from 17.08 mills to 18.08 mills during the school board’s Tuesday, Oct. 13, work session. The money would support school operations, employee salaries, retirement and health benefits, and financial reserves, according to the district’s board bulletin.

If approved, it would be the district’s first rate increase in seven years.

A final public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. at the South Learning Center, 4025 Flat Shoals Road in Union City. The board is scheduled to adopt the final rate that day.

What homeowners could pay

The proposed rate is one mill above last year’s rate and 0.541 mills above the district’s calculated rollback rate of 17.539 mills. The rollback rate accounts for reassessments to avoid collecting additional revenue from rising property values.

For a home with a fair market value of $425,000, the district estimates approximately $91 more in annual school taxes compared with the rollback rate, according to its public notice.

That figure does not represent the full difference between last year’s 17.08-mill rate and the proposed 18.08 mills. On an unchanged assessed value of $170,000 — 40% of a $425,000 market value — a one-mill increase would add $170 before exemptions. Individual bills depend on taxable assessed values and applicable exemptions.

The proposal represents an advertised 3.08% increase over the rollback rate.

District cites financial pressures

Dereef’s recommendation follows more than $52 million in budget savings and additional revenue opportunities identified through the district’s cost-reduction efforts.

Even with those measures, district projections show that lower rates could produce deficits and push reserves below recommended levels. Declining enrollment and state funding, along with rising employee benefit costs, are adding pressure, according to the board bulletin.

Fulton Schools adopted a $2.3 billion budget across all funds in June with a projected deficit of approximately $56.9 million, Appen Media reported. Local revenue supplies more than 60% of the district’s general fund budget.

Voter-approved homestead exemptions for older residents were projected to reduce school revenue by approximately $50 million.

Superintendent Mike Looney first proposed the one-mill increase at the board’s Aug. 11 work session, calling it “unwelcome” but in the district’s best interest, according to Appen Media.

The board tentatively adopted the proposed rate and held two public hearings Oct. 13.

Graduation rate reaches record 93.4%

At the same work session, Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins reported a record 93.4% graduation rate for 2026.

It was the district’s sixth consecutive all-time high and exceeded Georgia’s 88.5% statewide rate, Atlanta News First reported.

Across Fulton Schools, 77% of high schools recorded graduation rates above 90%. Global Impact Academy reached 100% for the third consecutive year, while The Promise Career Institute posted a 98% rate for its first graduating class, according to the district.

“We’ve refused to compromise the rigor and our expectations for students,” Looney told Atlanta News First in September.