Fulton County moves to issue temporary property tax bills amid assessment delays

Fulton County is preparing temporary 2026 property tax bills after computer glitches delayed property assessments and blocked certification of the county tax digest. The emergency move is meant to keep schools and local services funded while final bills or refunds could come later this year.

Why it matters: - Fulton County’s delayed tax digest has created a cash-flow problem for schools and local government. - Emergency billing is meant to keep money moving for payroll, emergency services and other county functions. - The temporary fix could still lead to later adjustments, including additional bills or refunds.

What happened: - Fulton County property owners were supposed to receive assessment notices in June, starting a 45-day appeal window that ran to July 31 for most taxpayers. - Several blocks of properties missed the deadline because of a computer glitch tied mostly to mapping errors. - The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved emergency action. - A Fulton County Superior Court judge approved a temporary court order allowing property tax bills to go out without a completed assessment or tax digest. - Fulton County plans to mail property tax bills on August 15, 2026.

The details: - The Fulton Board of Tax Assessors sends annual assessment notices that show property values, exemptions and appeal deadlines. - The incomplete assessments prevent the Fulton Board of Tax Assessors from certifying the county tax digest. - Without a certified digest, Fulton County cannot send or collect property taxes on the normal schedule. - The emergency bills will use 2026 assessment data and 2025 millage rates. - Those bills may not be final. - Additional bills or refunds could follow later in the year after the assessment and tax digest are certified. - Second-round bills and refunds are expected in October, though that timing could change. - The temporary funding is finite and may last only one or two months.

Between the lines: - Property taxes fund most local government operations, so delays quickly turn into budget stress. - School districts face the biggest risk because they receive the largest share of property tax revenue. - Officials moved quickly because a funding gap could have affected the start of the school year. - The court order suggests county leaders viewed delayed billing as less risky than waiting for a full certification process. - The unusual mix of old millage rates and new assessments could produce bills that are hard for taxpayers to interpret.

What’s next: - Fulton County will issue the temporary bills and collect payments to bridge the gap. - County officials will continue working toward certification of the assessment roll and tax digest. - Taxpayers should expect possible follow-up bills or refunds after the final numbers are set. - Property owners who already filed appeals could see the outcome reflected later in the year. - The broader tax picture in Fulton County may stay unsettled for months as officials reconcile the delayed assessments.

The bottom line: - Fulton County is using a court-approved stopgap to avoid a funding crunch, but property owners may not know their final 2026 tax bill until later this year.

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