CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. – A Georgia State Representative is challenging Camden County’s proposed property tax increase, citing state research that shows the county’s rates and budget already exceed comparable counties statewide.
State Representative Steven Sainz requested reports from the Georgia House Budget and Research Office that indicate the proposed millage rate increase would push Camden County’s rates above both incorporated and unincorporated county averages across Georgia.
The county commissioners recently announced plans to raise the millage rate, which would result in approximately 18% higher property taxes for residents. One mill represents $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value.
According to the state reports, Camden County’s current 2024 millage rate of 12.1 mills already surpasses the state average. The research also revealed that Camden County maintains one of the larger budgets among similarly-sized counties in Georgia.
County officials previously stated the proposed increase would fund several capital projects like a new jail facility, Sheriff’s Office and an animal control facility.
However, Sainz argued that the county faces a spending issue rather than a revenue shortfall. “Camden does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem,” Sainz stated in a release to county residents.
The proposed tax increase has faced mounting opposition:
- Two county commissioners have publicly opposed the rate increase
- The state representative suggests exploring alternative funding methods for the proposed projects
- Residents are expressing concerns about the potential 18% increase in their property tax bills
One resident like Craig Banister.
“Why do we keep having to raise taxes,” Banister said.
Banister said if commissioners want to fund projects to keep making the area better, there should be other ways to do it.
“You got to figure out how can we do this,” Banister said. “There should have been people that were putting funds aside to begin with knowing that these things needed to be done anyway.”
The county’s proposal would further elevate rates that are already higher than the state average, according to the Georgia House Budget and Research Office reports.
County officials will address these concerns as they move forward with their millage rate proposal.
There will be three public hearings about the proposed increase. They will be September 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and on October 7, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
The meetings will be held in the Commissioners Meeting Room on the 2ndfloor of the Government Services Complex, 200 E. 4thStreet, in Woodbine.