All real and personal property within Oconee County is taxed on an “ad valorem” basis. This calculation utilizes 40% of the fair market value for the property. The 40% value is multiplied by the millage rate to calculate the property taxes owed. Millage rates within Oconee County for 2007 are detailed below. The following calculations include all municipal, county, and school taxes represented in the following rates:

• Oconee County (unincorporated) –.024436
• Town of Bishop –.027206
• Town of Bogart –.028141
• Town of North High Shoals –.026451
• City of Watkinsville –.028143

Sales Taxes are paid on many purchases made within Oconee County. Presently, purchases within Oconee County are currently subject to a 7% sales tax, with some state authorized exceptions for food items, business-to-business transactions, and certain professional services.

Four percent of the sales tax is received by the State of Georgia. One percent is collected and distributed among the local governing jurisdictions based upon a formula. One percent, the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), is approved by the voters to fund specific capital improvement projects within the county. The remaining one percent is collected for capital improvement projects identified by the Oconee County Board of Education.