Property Taxes in Kennesaw, Georgia — 2025 Guide
By Justine Derby • Updated July 7, 2025
If the words “millage rate” make your eyes glaze over, don’t worry—this local guide explains exactly how Kennesaw property taxes are calculated, what changed in 2025, and which exemptions can shave hundreds off your annual bill.
How the 2025 Tax Bill Works in Kennesaw, GA
- Assessment: Cobb County Tax Assessor values your home as of January 1 and taxes 40 % of that fair-market value (assessed value).
- Millage Rate: The City of Kennesaw adopted 8.83 mills for 2025 (city portion). County, school and bond millages pile on top. One “mill” = $1 per $1,000 assessed value.
- Billing: City mails one consolidated statement each October; payment due December 1. Late = 5 % penalty + 1 % interest/month.
Quick Math Example (2025):
| Line Item | Formula | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Home market value | — | $400,000 |
| Assessed value (40 %) | $400,000 × 0.40 | $160,000 |
| Kennesaw city tax | $160,000 × 0.00883 | $1,412.80 |
| County + school + bond* | ≈ $1,450 | Varies |
| Total est. bill | — | $2,863 |
*2025 county + school millages total ≈ 9.0 mills; final number appears on October bill.
Effective Rate & Average Bills (2025)
| Metric | Kennesaw | Georgia Median | U.S. Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effective tax rate | 1.02 % | 1.08 % | 1.02 % |
| Median home value | $301,955 | $231,400 | $235,294 |
| Median annual bill | $2,819 | $2,212 | $2,400 |
| 75th-percentile bill | $3,753 | — | — |
- ZIP
30152tops the chart (median $2,952); ZIP30144averages $2,730. - 2025 rollback was not adopted; M&O millage +8.83 % • Bond millage +7.45 %.
Exemptions That Save Real Money
- Standard Homestead — Reduces assessed value of primary residence by $10,000 (≈ $100–$120 off the city portion).
- Senior (62-64) — Additional $2,000 school-tax exemption + $35 k state income exclusion.
- Senior (65+ Double-Homestead) — School tax eliminated on first $10,000 assessed; state retirement-income exclusion jumps to $65 k.
- Disabled Vet / Surviving Spouse — Up to $109,986 fair-market value fully exempt from all ad-valorem taxes.
Apply once—between Jan 1 and Apr 1—at the Cobb Tax Commissioner’s online portal.
Appeals & Assessment Changes
- Notice of Assessment lands in your mailbox ~mid-May.
- File free appeal within 45 days if value seems inflated—e-file is easiest.
- Options: Board of Assessors, Board of Equalization, or arbitration. A successful appeal lowers both city and county portions.
2025 Rate History & Where the Money Goes
- Maintenance & Operations (M&O): 5.52 mills → street resurfacing, police, code enforcement.
- Bond Millage: 3.31 mills → parks expansion, new fire station.
- Schools: 18.70 mills (county-wide) → largest line on your bill.
Pay, Plan & Reduce
- Pay online: Municipal Online Payments.
- Quarter-Pay option: City allows four equal installments (choose on first portal login).
- Escrow check-up: Re-quote homeowner’s insurance before renewal; lower premium = lower escrow, but tax increase may offset the savings.
Bookmark Cobb’s property-tax estimator to model next year’s bill, especially if you just pulled permits for a home addition.
Key Takeaways
- Kennesaw’s 1.02 % effective rate tracks national norms, but bills run higher than the Georgia median due to stronger home values and school millage.
- 2025 millage rose 8–9 % to fund road resurfacing, new parks and bond debt.
- File homestead (and senior) exemptions once—then watch savings accumulate every December.
Still puzzled? Drop by City Hall or email tax@kennesaw-ga.gov; staff will crunch numbers with you.
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