OXFORD, Ga. – The Oxford City Council voted 5-1 Monday to maintain the city’s current millage rate. Council member George Holt dissented.

City Manager Matt Pepper said the council’s action means that the city will maintain its current millage rate of 6.62 mills. According to a legal notice in the July 7-8 edition of The Covington News, the millage rate adopted by the council will require an increase in taxes for Oxford’s property owners of 10.67 percent.

In a statement to The News, Pepper said the tax increase is tied to the increased value of a home in Oxford.

“What that means for homeowners is if the fair market value of their home has increased, the assessed value will increase, and therefore the amount of their property taxes owed will increase. If the fair market value of the home has not changed, then the homeowner will not experience an increase in property taxes owed,” he said.

The city will hold public hearings on the tax hike at city hall July 16 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

The Oxford council’s move comes as the Newton County Board of Commissioners works toward the county’s FY 2019 budget that includes a planned 0.56 millage rate increase.