Kennesaw residents will pay higher city property taxes in 2026 under a proposed millage rate that exceeds the state-calculated rollback rate by 4.25 percent for maintenance and operations and 3.70 percent for bonds.
The City of Kennesaw announced the proposed increase Thursday, July 16, in a press release authored by city spokesperson Becca Graham. Because the Kennesaw City Council's tentatively adopted budget requires a rate above rollback, Georgia law mandates three public hearings before the council can vote on a final rate.
When and where to comment
All three hearings will be held at the City of Kennesaw Council Chambers, 2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave., Kennesaw:
- Monday, July 27, 2026, at 6 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
- Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
The council is scheduled to adopt the final millage rate following the third hearing on Monday, Aug. 3, according to the city's press release.
What the rollback rate means
Cobb County tax assessors review property values annually. When recent home sales push fair market values up, assessors adjust taxable values accordingly. The rollback rate is the millage rate that would produce the same total tax revenue as the prior year's rate, assuming none of those reassessments had occurred.
When a city proposes a rate above rollback, it is collecting more total revenue than the prior year — not just benefiting from rising property values.
Where Kennesaw's rate stands
Kennesaw's current city general M&O rate is 9.15 mills, according to a Cobb County comparative rate table included in a July 13 municipal agenda packet. Combined with the county levy (excluding school and police special service district taxes), Kennesaw property owners pay a total of 20.58 mills. The proposed increase would push the city's M&O portion above 9.15 mills, but the city has not published the exact proposed rate in mills. Additional details, including a five-year millage rate history, are posted at kennesaw-ga.gov.
Double hit for Kennesaw property owners
Kennesaw's city millage is separate from the Cobb County unincorporated levy. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners announced its own proposed increase of 4.07 percent above the General Fund M&O rollback rate on Wednesday, July 1, with its own set of public hearings. Property owners inside Kennesaw city limits pay both the county levy and the city rate, meaning they could see increases from two separate governing bodies this year. The two processes have different hearing schedules and different decision-makers.
Residents who want to comment on Kennesaw's proposed rate can attend any of the three hearings or visit kennesaw-ga.gov for the full required advertisement.
