Many Warner Robins homeowners will pay higher property taxes this year. Here’s why

Warner Robins residents are going to pay higher property taxes this year after the city council decided to keep the city’s millage rate at 9.98.

That means property owners have a tax liability of $9.98 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which is 40% of the fair market value of their property.

Many Warner Robins residents will pay higher property tax bills since property values increased following reassessments by the Houston County Tax Assessors office.

The fiscal year 2023 millage rate drew criticism from local property owners. The city held three public hearings before voting to approve it, and city leaders say more tax revenue allows local services to keep pace with steady growth.

Warner Robins did not adopt a rollback millage rate, which is a decreased millage rate that would keep tax revenue the same as last year. Due to increases in property value, the city said keeping the millage rate the same as last year’s means property taxes will increase by about 11.98%.

Houston County Chief Appraiser James Moore said increases in new construction of commercial and residential property and the inflation of housing and land prices led to the higher property values.

“Property values are determined by the market,” said Moore. “We have to use that information in order to set a value for purposes of taxation. Generally speaking, the millage rates have been pretty low in the cities here in Houston County. I think our property tax rates are not really high like it could be in other places, and even other states.”

The city gave examples that an owner of a home with a $125,000 fair market value would see a tax increase of about $27.77 and a non-homestead property with a $150,000 fair market value would have a tax increase of $64.08.

“Over the last 20 years it has been important to past administrations as well as mine to keep the City of Warner Robins millage rate under 10 mills,” Mayor LaRhonda Patrick said in a statement. “A rollback to the city’s mill rate means our tax revenue essentially remains flat. Maintaining a flat revenue makes it difficult for the City of Warner Robins to continue to provide essential services at the same costs for a community that continues to grow. This is especially challenging given the current inflationary market.

“Additionally, our community has seen consistent growth over the past two decades. According to the U.S. Census, Warner Robins grew by 20.6% between 2010 and 2020. Since 2000, the population has grown by 64.5%. The FY23 budget did not include any assumed increases in the millage rate.”