Updated: County Taxes Head Up 26 Percent

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the tax increase cost for the average Dunwoody home. On a $350,000 home, the increased cost will be around $223.

Tuesday, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved a 26 percent tax hike 4-3.

For residents of unincorporated DeKalb County, that's a 4.35 millage rate hike.

For Dunwoody residents, that millage rate increase is not as big. Citizens of Dunwoody pay for fire, hospital and county operations. Residents of the city will see their county tax rate go from 11.42 mills to 13.01 mills, an increase of 1.59 mills, or 14 percent.

The county-wide, 26 percent tax hike for the 2011 budget will add $50 million in revenue, according to the AJC.

“Each dollar that goes to DeKalb County government is one less dollar available to feed a family, fill up a gas tank or look for a job,” Boyer said in a press release. “Utility bills are higher and food is skyrocketing. We are all cutting our budgets, yet the county has refused to embrace layoffs or significant budget reductions.”

County CEO Burrell Ellis did agree to establish a separate police millage levy, something .

“This is great news for public safety and our citizens,” Boyer said in a statement. “Police and fire are the most important services provided by county government. The rest could always be debated. But we always have to protect our citizens.

For the average Dunwoody home, which is around $350,000, the 1.59 mill tax rate increase will mean about $223 more in taxes per year.

The expected increase had been 1.93 mills for Dunwoody residents, according to earlier estimates released by the county.