Rockdale County Board Of Commissioners Town Hall 09/15/2026

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners held a town hall meeting on September 15, 2026, focused primarily on educating the public about the proposed Flexible Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) referendum set for the November 3 ballot. Clark Harold from the Association County Commissioners of Georgia presented details on how the 1% sales tax increase would generate an estimated $26 million in 2027, with approximately $21 million allocated to Rockdale County and $4.8 million to the city of Conyers. The revenue from FLOST is legally dedicated to property tax relief, potentially reducing the county millage rate by about 3.85 mills. The discussion included clarifications on tax collection timing, the impact on renters and non-residents, and comparisons to existing tax mechanisms like HOST and SPLOST. Several community members expressed concerns about the regressive nature of sales taxes, the potential burden on low-income residents and renters, and the possibility that the millage rate might not decrease as expected due to rising county expenses. The board emphasized ongoing efforts in economic development and workforce programs to increase revenue beyond taxation. No new contracts or procurement decisions were made during this meeting, but the FLOST referendum, if approved, would influence future county revenue and budgeting.