Athens-Clarke’s unified government runs 31.050 mills for county plus school. Add Winterville or downtown DDA and the bill moves. One government — still check the district overlays.
Every Clarke levy from the GA DOR 2025 digest: unified Athens-Clarke M&O, school, downtown DDA, Winterville and Bogart add-ons. I sell the Athens / East Metro corridor. Straight talk.
Tax on a $350,000 home on the typical Athens-Clarke unified base. That’s about $362 a month in escrow. Georgia assesses 40% of market value ($140,000 here), and this scenario’s 2025 levies total 31.050 mills.
Homestead exemptions reduce this — see the exemptions section below. Confirm any parcel with the county tax assessor / commissioner.
Athens-Clarke County property tax, explained
Georgia doesn’t tax your full home value. It taxes 40% of fair market value (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-7) — the assessed value. Every levy on your parcel then charges its millage against that number: $1 per mill per $1,000 of assessed value.
On a $350,000 home that’s $140,000 assessed, so every mill costs $140 a year. Keep that number in your head — it’s how you compare any two addresses in this county in about five seconds.
| Athens-Clarke County levy (2025) | M&O | Bond | Who pays it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens-Clarke County (unified government) | 12.250 | 0.000 | Consolidated county/city M&O (digest: County Incorporated) |
| Clarke County Schools | 18.800 | 0.000 | Countywide |
| Athens Downtown Development Authority | 1.000 | 0.000 | Parcels in the downtown DDA district |
| Winterville | 2.900 | 0.000 | Inside Winterville city limits |
| Bogart (Clarke) | 2.030 | 0.000 | Clarke portion of Bogart |
| TADs #1–6 / East Downtown DDA | 0.000 | 0.000 | Tax allocation districts (0.000 in digest) |
| State of Georgia | 0.000 | — | No state levy on property |
All mills: GA DOR 2025 digest (Clarke). Consolidated government — hub marks Clarke with *. Base = 31.050.
Athens-Clarke County tax rates by city
Scenario math: unified M&O 12.250 + schools 18.800 + district/city add-on. There is no separate “City of Athens” M&O row in the digest.
| Where the house sits | County/city | School | Add-on | Total mills | Tax on $350,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens-Clarke (unified / typical) Unified county/city levy; no separate city M&O for Athens proper | 12.250 | 18.800 | — | 31.050 | $4,347 |
| Athens D/T Development Authority district Downtown DDA add-on 1.000 | 12.250 | 18.800 | 1.000 | 32.050 | $4,487 |
| Winterville (add-on) Winterville city levy on top of unified base | 12.250 | 18.800 | 2.900 | 33.950 | $4,753 |
| Bogart (Clarke portion) Clarke-side Bogart add-on | 12.250 | 18.800 | 2.030 | 33.080 | $4,631 |
Before exemptions. Bogart also appears in Oconee’s digest on the Oconee side. Local homestead (~$25k county / ~$10k school) is a big deal here — see exemptions.
The 30-second rule for Athens-Clarke buyers
Base is 31.050 mills — about $4,347 on a $350K house before exemptions. Winterville adds 2.900 mills (~$406/yr). The local homestead is large; a seller’s bill without it is not your bill.
Athens-Clarke County homestead exemptions
Athens-Clarke’s local homestead is among the more generous in East Metro:
- Regular homestead (S1): about $25,000 off county M&O and $10,000 off school M&O assessed value (includes state $2,000), per ACCGov exemptions page.
- Senior / low-income / veteran / floating: multiple codes (SC, S3–S8, etc.) — see accgov.com/1687/Exemptions.
- How to file: in person at the Tax Commissioner. Deadline = 45 days after Notice of Assessment mailing (not a fixed April 1 for ACC). Own and occupy as of January 1.
- HB 581: unified government stayed in; Clarke County Schools opted out for 2025.
- Due date: confirm with the Tax Commissioner for the current year.
Buying a resale? Don’t budget off the seller’s bill.
A seller with a long-time freeze, senior exemption or HOST credit can show a bill that looks nothing like yours. Pull the current assessed value, run today’s millage, and set escrow on your number. Or send me the address — I’ll do it.
Athens-Clarke County property tax FAQ
What is the property tax rate in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
Athens-Clarke is a unified government. The 2025 county-plus-school base is 31.050 mills (unified M&O 12.250 + schools 18.800). Downtown DDA adds 1.000; Winterville adds 2.900; Bogart (Clarke) adds 2.030.
How much is property tax on a $350,000 home in Athens-Clarke?
Before exemptions: about $4,347 on the typical unified base. Downtown DDA district about $4,487; Winterville about $4,753.
What homestead exemptions does Athens-Clarke offer?
Per ACCGov: local homestead is much larger than the state $2,000 — roughly $25,000 off county M&O and $10,000 off school M&O for regular homestead (S1), including the state portion. Senior, low-income, veteran and floating options also exist. Apply in person at the Tax Commissioner’s Office; deadline is 45 days after the annual Notice of Assessment mailing (typically mid-May; 2026 example deadline was July 6, 2026). Own and occupy as of January 1. propertytax@accgov.com / 706-613-3120 opt. 6.
When are Athens-Clarke property taxes due?
Confirm the current year’s due date with the Athens-Clarke County Tax Commissioner (accgov.com). Do not rely on another county’s November 15 date without checking.
Did Athens-Clarke opt out of HB 581?
Athens-Clarke County government stayed in HB 581 for 2025; Clarke County Schools opted out. Confirm with the district.
Chris Davis
I’ve helped buyers and sellers across Athens, Winterville and the Athens-Clarke / Oconee corridor for over a decade. Send me any address and I’ll run the levies.
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Sources. Millage: GA DOR 2025 digest, Clarke lines: County Incorporated 12.250; School 18.800; Athens D/T Dev Auth 1.000; Winterville 2.900; Bogart 2.030. Exemptions: ACCGov Exemptions. Homestead deadline: ACCGov (45 days after assessment notice). HB 581: GSU CSLF. 40% assessment: O.C.G.A. § 48-5-7. Due date: confirm with Tax Commissioner. Estimates before exemptions; not a tax bill.