Gwinnett County locks in 6.95-mill property tax rate for seventh straight year

Gwinnett County homeowners with a standard homestead exemption are set to pay the same county property tax in 2026 as they did last year — and the year before that, and the five years before that. The Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday, August 4, to hold the general fund millage rate at 6.95 mills for the seventh consecutive year.

The vote came after three public hearings where residents could comment in person or online. Tax bills are scheduled to go out in September, with payments due in November.

For most Gwinnett homeowners, the protection comes from two layers working together: the unchanged millage rate and the county's Value Offset Exemption (VOE). The VOE locks in a base-year assessed value for the county portion of a homeowner's tax bill, so even if a home's market value climbed, the county tax owed does not. On a $440,900 home in Suwanee, for example, county officials cited a county tax bill of roughly $487, according to CBS News.

Not everyone benefits equally, however. Property owners who do not qualify for the VOE — generally those without a homestead exemption on their primary residence — will see their county taxes reflect any increase in assessed value. And under state law, holding the rate at 6.95 mills is technically classified as a tax increase, because the calculated rollback rate — the rate that would generate the same revenue as last year from existing properties — sits lower, at approximately 6.792 mills, according to CBS News.

What we are focused on here is providing quality services for our residents, making sure if they need an ambulance, if they need a firefighter, if they need police, that they have those services.— Russell Royal, Director of Financial Services, Gwinnett County

Royal pointed to inflation, rising fuel costs and healthcare expenses as key pressures on the county budget. 'It's more about maintaining what we have,' he said, according to CBS News.

Holding the millage rate steady means that most of our residents will go another year without an increase to the County portion of their tax bill, maintaining meaningful stability at a time when families are feeling the pressure of rising costs. Intentional budgeting and careful stewardship ensure we provide strong value for every dollar residents entrust to the County, allowing us to continue delivering superior services our residents and businesses count on.— Nicole Love Hendrickson, Gwinnett County Chairwoman

The 6.95-mill general fund rate is one piece of a larger tax bill. The total 2026 property tax millage rate for owners in unincorporated Gwinnett County comes to 14.71 mills, which also incorporates special service district levies — covering services such as police, fire, emergency response and code enforcement — as well as countywide levies for recreation and economic development. All of those additional rates also remain unchanged from last year, according to the county.

Gwinnett County is not alone in navigating millage decisions this cycle. DeKalb County and the city of Brookhaven voted to increase their tax rates last month, and Cobb County has been moving toward a rate increase as well, according to CBS News.

Property owners and mortgage lenders can pay bills by mail, online, in person at the main tax office, or via drop boxes at tag offices. Full details on the 2026 millage rates and how property taxes are calculated are available at GwinnettCounty.com.

Why it matters — For most Gwinnett homeowners, the decision means another year of flat county property taxes — but residents without a homestead exemption and those watching the broader metro Atlanta trend of rising millage rates should understand exactly where they stand.

Reported by gwinnettcounty.com, northgwinnettvoice.com, accessnorthga.com, cbsnews.com, gcpsk12.org