Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta Office of the Municipal Clerk announced that 33 candidates filed their paperwork on Tuesday, Aug. 19,  to run in Atlanta’s upcoming municipal elections, officially opening the city’s four-day qualifying period. Qualifying for the Nov. 4 election continues through Friday, Aug. 22. Atlanta Mayor Andre’ Dickens drew one contender on Day 1, while  the City Council District 11 emerged as the most crowded race so far with five challengers. The Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education has three seats open.  Atlanta’s municipal election includes a mix of  community leaders and 12 incumbents running for re-election: Mayor Andre…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–– Rockdale County homeowners and businesses will see a slight drop in property taxes next year after the Board of Commissioners’ unanimous decision on Tuesday, Aug. 19, to lower the county’s millage rate from 18.69 to 18.284 for 2025.  Local governments use millage rate to calculate property taxes with one mill equal to $1of tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. Rockdale’s portion of the overall tax bill funds essential county services including public safety courts, roads, and the county’s general operations.  Other portions of the millage rate are set  by the Rockdale County Board of…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office recently began mailing nearly 250,000 property tax bills to property owners for the 2025 tax year. Owners who signed up for e-Alerts may also check their email for billing notifications. Bills can be accessed online at https://publicaccess.dekalbcountyga.gov. “A sample bill, including what you need to know about your tax bill, frequently asked questions and payment methods, is available online at DeKalbTax.org,” said Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson. “I highly encourage taxpayers to consider online payment, pay-by-phone and secure drop box options to avoid long lines and wait times when paying in person.” Taxpayers can pay…

CONYERS, GA–Qualifying for three seats on the Conyers City Council opened today, Aug.18, and will close on Friday, Aug. 22. City voters will elect a mayor and City Council members for District 1 and District 2, Post 1.   Those qualifying for the seats will be on the ballot for the Nov. 4 municipal election. Qualifying times Aug. 18-22 are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Conyers City Hall, 901 O’Kelly Street, Conyers, GA. The qualifying fee for mayor is $306, and the fee for the City Council seats is $252.   For more information, contact City Clerk Nicole Holsomback at nicole.holsomback@conyersga.gov…

CONYERS, GA—The Conyers City Council has announced its intention to increase the 2025 property taxes it will levy this year by 18.05 percentage over the rollback millage rate.  City officials say the tax increase is necessary due to the inflationary cost of providing city services. When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred. The budget tentatively adopted by the Conyers City Council requires a millage rate higher than the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case of a Clayton County man who shot and killed a friend over an unpaid loan.  On Friday, Aug. 15, jurors found Shiva Vereen, 52, guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in connection with the shooting death of Andrew Carpenter, 45. According to the investigation, officers from the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a call of a person shot around 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 13, 2023, at a sports bar…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— Following approval by the DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections (DeKalb BRE) during its Aug. 13 regular meeting, DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) announces early voting locations, drop box sites, and important voter deadlines for the Nov. 4, Municipal General/Special Election. The DeKalb BRE approved 10 early voting locations across the county, including six locations equipped with official absentee ballot drop boxes. Voters are encouraged to mark their calendars with the following key dates: Aug. 18 – First day to request an absentee ballot for the November election Oct. 6 – Voter registration deadline Oct.…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– In observance of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1, garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection for residential customers will be based on a revised schedule as follows: Monday, Sept. 1 – Labor Day observed. No sanitation collection service.  Tuesday, Sept. 2 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Monday, Sept. 1, will be serviced on Tuesday, Sept. 2.  Wednesday, Sept. 3 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, Sept. 2, will be serviced on Wednesday, Sept. 3.  Thursday, Sept. 4 – Residential customers whose regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, Sept. 3, will be serviced on Thursday, Sept. 4.  Friday,…