Sandy Springs at 20: What Its Young City Government Means for Homeowners
By Mary McMath, Keller Williams Realty Atlanta North
October 26, 2026 · 2 min read
Sandy Springs is one of metro Atlanta's newest cities, and its short history explains a lot about what you'll pay and who provides services.
The vote. On June 21, 2005, 94% of voters approved incorporation, and the city officially formed on December 1, 2005. It now covers about 38.5 square miles, bordered by the Chattahoochee on the west and north.
Population. Sandy Springs had 108,080 residents in the 2020 census and an estimated 105,013 in 2025.
A flat city tax rate. The city has kept its rate at 4.731 mills every year since incorporation, at the cap set in its charter. For 2026 the city again plans 4.731 mills, with final public hearings on November 3. A Sandy Springs homeowner's 2026 bill stacks up like this:
| Taxing body | 2026 rate (mills) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| City of Sandy Springs | 4.731 | Hearings through Nov. 3 |
| Fulton County | 8.87 | Adopted Oct. 7, 2026 |
| Fulton County Schools | 18.08 | Proposed; up from 17.08 |
Fulton County homestead exemptions are due by April 1 each year through the Fulton County Board of Assessors.
How the city runs. Sandy Springs launched as a public-private partnership, contracting out nearly every role except six full-time employees. In 2019 the council began bringing 183 contract employees in-house. Some services, including ambulance service and street sweeping, are still contracted.
City Springs. The city bought the land for its downtown civic center in 2008. City Springs opened in 2018, with city hall, a performing arts center and a green.
Schools. Fulton County Schools serves Sandy Springs, with two high schools in the city: Riverwood International Charter School and North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences. As always, confirm the zone for a specific address.
Take it from Mary: that flat city rate doesn't mean a flat bill. Your bill still moves with your assessed value and with county and school rates, so I always show buyers the full picture. See the Sandy Springs area page.
A note on the numbers: every figure in this post is a good-faith estimate taken from the sources below as of the date it was posted. Figures aren't exact and can change, so please do your own research and confirm anything important with the official source before relying on it.
Sources
- Sandy Springs, Georgia (Wikipedia)
- Sandy Springs property tax rate (Rough Draft Atlanta)
- Fulton holds tax rate flat, school district proposes increase (Rough Draft Atlanta)
- Fulton County Schools proposes 2026 property tax hike (Hoodline)
- Homestead exemption applications due April 1 (Fulton County)
Photo: Thomson200 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
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