The Clarkston City Council recently set a higher millage rate for 2026, though not without some debate.

Ultimately, Clarkston adopted a millage rate of 17.2 mills in hopes of addressing operational budget constraints. The millage rate is a figure used to calculate local property taxes; for homeowners, 1 mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

Clarkston’s new millage rate is above the state-mandated rate 15.68. But city manager ChaQuias Miller-Thornton warned that the rollback rate would have slashed $272,277 from anticipated tax revenue, when the city budget still needs to cover employee cost-of-living adjustments, public works equipment, and police staffing levels. 

The vote revealed a variety of councilmember perspectives over how much residents should be taxed secure the city’s safety net:

• Dean Moore advocated to stay close to the break-even rate, suggesting 16.6 mills and urging the city to halt new projects to avoid over-taxation.
• Mark Perkins recommended an aggressive rate closer to 17 mills to create a safety cushion for the city. 
• Yterenickia Bell supported a higher millage rate, arguing that a break-even rate leaves the city only a small amount of leeway to cover unprecedented expenses. “Annexation actually requires money to annex,” Bell said. 

Clarkston resident Dawn Aura spoke out against the rate increase, saying her property taxes have doubled since she moved to Clarkston two years ago.

“My hope is that we are eventually able to reduce the residential tax burden,” Councilmember Perkins said in an email to Canopy Atlanta after the meeting. However, he pointed out that Clarkston’s 2025 millage rate led to a half a million dollars decrease in the city’s budget, and cuts to federal programs make cash reserves all the more crucial. 

“Most of our paths forward as a city require a significant amount of money, and we cannot realize them without a healthy bank account,” Perkins wrote. 

(Documented by Sirrus Darr; additional reporting by Madeline Goodheart)

The Board of Commissioners approved Clayton County’s budget for fiscal year 2027, which includes:

🙌 A 10 percent pay raise for all sworn personnel, including animal control and correctional officers 

🏡 A 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment for county staff

📈 A 4 percent general fund budget increase, to $347.6 million

(Documented by Dominique Huff, additional reporting by Madeline Goodheart)

Atlanta City Council

🏛️ The council’s Finance/Executive Committee approves a proposed city budget two percent higher than the previous fiscal year, for just over $994.6 million. A cornerstone of the budget is Mayor Andre Dickens’ Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, leveraging tax allocation districts (TADs) to fund transit, housing, and infrastructure investments in underserved parts of metro Atlanta.

Also discussed at the meeting:
🤖 The council also approved formal recommendations of its artificial intelligence commission, led by Councilmembers Matt Westmoreland and Eshé Collins. The commission recommended creating a permanent AI advisory board and providing role-specific AI training for frontline staff and related personnel. 

(Documented by Dominique Huff)

Clayton County Board of Commissioners

💻 Officials extended its moratorium on new data center developments across the county’s unincorporated areas until the end of 2026. Commissioner Alaina Reaves introduced the moratorium in 2025, after her office faced an influx of phone calls and emails from worried local residents.

(Documented by Dominique Huff; additional reporting by Madeline Goodheart)

Atlanta City Council

🏛️ The council’s Finance/Executive Committee approves a proposed city budget two percent higher than the previous fiscal year, for just over $994.6 million. A cornerstone of the budget is Mayor Andre Dickens’ Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, leveraging tax allocation districts (TADs) to fund transit, housing, and infrastructure investments in underserved parts of metro Atlanta.

Also discussed at the meeting: 

🤖 The council also approved formal recommendations of its artificial intelligence commission, led by Councilmembers Matt Westmoreland and Eshé Collins. The commission recommended creating a permanent AI advisory board and providing role-specific AI training for frontline staff and related personnel. 

(Documented by Dominique Huff)

Clayton County Board of Commissioners

💻 Officials extended its moratorium on new data center developments across the county’s unincorporated areas until the end of 2026. Commissioner Alaina Reaves introduced the moratorium in 2025, after her office faced an influx of phone calls and emails from worried local residents.

(Documented by Dominique Huff; additional reporting by Madeline Goodheart)

Financial Aid & FAFSA Workshop 

📅July 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍Riverdale Branch, 420 Valley Hill Road SW, Riverdale

Just for Kicks: Mega Watchfest

📅July 15, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
📍Arena at Southlake, 1300 Southlake Circle, Morrow

Back to School Bash

📅July 18, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
📍Jim Huie Recreation