Avondale Estates Sets New Millage Rate

The Avondale Estates mayor and board of commissioners adopted a new millage rate at a brief meeting of the organization Wednesday night.

In an e-mail sent to city residents earlier on Wedneday, Mayor Ed Rieker said the board "will be voting on lowering the millage rate from 11 mills to 10.957 mills to avoid a property tax increase for 2011.

"The city had advertised a much higher millage rate of 13.375 as a placeholder while the DeKalb County Tax Assessor corrected assessments in the city," Rieker's email said. "[On Tuesday] the city received from the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner a revised report of the tax digest for the city, indicating the 2011 tax digest is slightly higher than last year by roughly $1.4 million.

"The added property tax difference between living in Avondale Estates and living in unincorporated DeKalb County is approximately $490 per year or $41 per month for a property valued at $200,000," the email said.

Councilman David Milliron voted for the new millage rate, but added, "My biggest concern is that there seems to be a surplus. I'm fine with 10.597, but I think we're going to have more appeals this year than ever."