Mableton Property Taxes Are Going Up. A 4.5-Mill Rate Will Fund a New Public Safety Division.

Atlanta Home Network · Published July 2026

The Mableton City Council voted 6-1 on Monday night to set the property tax rate at 4.5 mills, with the revenue dedicated to building a new public safety division. The owner of a home worth $350,000 will owe $630 a year, with the first bill due December 1.

Mableton's new 4.5-mill property tax will cost the owner of a $350,000 home $630 a year, starting this December.

The vote came after Mableton's contract negotiations with Cobb County for police services stalled last month. Mayor Michael Owens said the city determined it would be cheaper to open its own public safety division than to continue paying the county.

The city now has until next June to stand up the division or enter into another contract with Cobb County.

What the council decided

The Mableton City Council voted 6-1 on Monday, July 13, 2026, to set the tax rate at 4.5 mills. Councilmember Debora Herndon was the lone no vote.

Mayor Michael Owens framed the move as a step toward self-reliance on public safety.

"This is an important step forward for Mableton and a direct investment in the security and well-being of our community," Owens said. "By establishing a dedicated funding source for our Public Safety Division, we are ensuring complete transparency. Every dollar generated through this district will go exactly where it is supposed to go: keeping Mableton safe."

Herndon, who voted against the plan, questioned the timing. "We are taking a shot in the dark at this," she said. "We do have a feasibility study that is going to come." That feasibility study will not be ready until September, according to Herndon.

What it costs homeowners

A millage rate of 4.5 means the owner of a home worth $350,000 will owe $630 a year. The bill will be due this year on December 1.

Property owners will receive the bill in the mail in October. To avoid penalties and interest, city staff said the tax must be paid in full by December 1.

Several residents raised concerns about the cost, particularly for those on fixed incomes.

"I'm not broke, and I ain't hungry, but I'm close enough to care, and there's people on fixed incomes, of which I am one, who that is a lot of money," Jim Terrell told the council.

Corey Jiggetts urged the council to slow down. "Pump the breaks, take a step back and plan properly," he said, later adding, "This is extremely complex on an expedited timeline that is self-imposed."

Why Mableton is building its own public safety division

Mableton currently pays Cobb County for police services. New contract negotiations stalled last month, which is when the mayor said it would be cheaper to open a Mableton Public Safety Division.

Councilmember T.J. Ferguson defended the move. "We grabbed the bull by the horns," he said.

Some residents expressed concerns about paying both Cobb County and Mableton for police services during the transition. The mayor said a judge would have to rule on any reimbursements if double taxation is established.

What happens next

The feasibility study is expected in September. The city has until June 2027 to open the public safety division or enter into another contract with Cobb County.

In the meantime, Mableton property owners should expect a tax bill in October, due in full by December 1 to avoid penalties and interest.

What this means for Mableton homeowners

For homeowners in Mableton — one of Cobb County's largest communities — the new 4.5-mill rate adds a direct cost on top of existing Cobb County property taxes. The $630 annual bill on a $350,000 home is the first dedicated city property tax since Mableton incorporated as a city in 2022.

The increase comes as Cobb County's housing market continues to draw interest from investors and new residents alike, with investor share falling to 19.9% in May 2026 as the market cools from its peak. Property taxes are a recurring carrying cost that factors into the total cost of ownership — a consideration for anyone weighing whether buying or renting makes more sense in metro Atlanta right now.

At the national level, new federal housing legislation signed into law the same week focuses on supply-side incentives, but property tax decisions like Mableton's remain squarely in the hands of local governments.

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