The Milton City Council is scheduled to vote Monday, Oct. 19, on a proposed 4.502-mill property tax rate for fiscal year 2027, the centerpiece of a packed agenda that also includes a development freeze extension and land condemnation for a roundabout.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Milton City Hall, 2006 Heritage Walk. Council members will also weigh extending a moratorium in the South Deerfield corridor, adopting a long-range planning document and condemning right-of-way for a road project, Appen Media reported.

Millage rate

The proposed rate breaks down to 4.193 mills for maintenance and operations and 0.309 mills for debt service. The 2025 total was 4.503 mills. The operations rate stays flat, and the debt-service rate drops by 0.001 mills.

For the owner of a $500,000 home, the rate would mean about $900.40 a year in city property taxes before exemptions.

The council deferred the vote Oct. 5 after City Attorney Ken Jarrard flagged a "scrivener's error" in the city's required tax-rate advertising. Jarrard asked for the delay out of "an abundance of caution," according to Appen Media.

Fulton County's delayed tax digest complicated the process. The county missed its 2026 schedule because of a backlog of unprocessed land records, leaving Milton and other local governments without the assessed values they needed to set rates.

Staff will present the advertised 4.193-mill operations rate and an undisclosed alternate. Both fall below the 4.205-mill rollback rate. Any rate above 4.193 mills would require additional advertising and public hearings under state law.

The 0.309-mill debt-service portion covers the ninth year of the city's greenspace bond. That payment will cost $1.7 million this year.

South Deerfield moratorium

The council will hold a public hearing on extending the South Deerfield development moratorium by up to 60 days. The original 30-day pause, adopted Sept. 21, bars new rezoning, site plan and land disturbance applications in the area bounded by State Route 9, Webb Road, GA 400 and Windward Parkway. Active permits and previously accepted applications are exempt.

The freeze followed the council's Sept. 21 approval of a $26.25 million purchase-and-sale agreement for the 51.32-acre former Verizon campus at One, Two and Three Verizon Place, as The Roundabout reported. The city put $100,000 in escrow and started a 60-day due-diligence period, according to a blog post by Wesley Harper. No purchase has closed.

If adopted, the extension would run roughly until Dec. 18, unless the council acts sooner, according to The Roundabout.

Other business

Comprehensive Plan 2040. The council will vote on adopting the five-year update to Milton's comprehensive plan. The city has described the revision as targeted, not a full rewrite. Georgia requires the update for Milton to keep its Qualified Local Government status, which makes the city eligible for certain state and federal funding.

Bethany-Providence roundabout. A resolution would condemn about 0.2 acres of right-of-way, plus permanent and temporary easements, for the Bethany Road at Providence Road roundabout. The city has negotiated with the property owner since July 2025 without reaching a deal. The estimated compensation deposit is $106,300, funded through TSPLOST I.

Development Authority expansion. The council will consider expanding the Deerfield-Focused Development Authority board from eight to nine directors and appointing Samia Coker. The council appointed the authority's original seven members in September.

Stone House Tap alcohol license. A public hearing will precede a vote on an alcohol beverage license for The Local Pour LLC, doing business as The Stone House Tap, at 12595 Crabapple Road.

Jan Jones proclamation. The council will honor retiring Georgia House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones with a proclamation recognizing her service.

The meeting streams live on the City of Milton's YouTube channel.