When homeowners of Berkeley Lake open their property tax bills this year, they will be presently surprised. City leaders voted to reduce the millage rate by nearly 50 percent.

An announcement on the city's website states: "At a special called meeting on July 6, 2012, the Berkeley Lake City Council set the millage rate for 2012 at 2.8 mils, down from the 2011 rate of 5.386."

The new rate represents a 49.77 percent reduction from last year. Tax bills will be mailed out in the first half of August and are due October 15, 2012.

In other news:

In her Mayors Message to the citizens of Berkeley Lake dated June 29, 2012, Mayor Lois Salter pointed out several other highlights the city has accomplished this year.

"The city has won battles over the dam, won major money from FEMA and GEMA, brought in a lovely new residential subdivision and more than 150 businesses, countered efforts to take those annexations away, and lowered your taxes."

Editor's note: In her comments on annexations the mayor was referring to actions taken last year when the City of Berkeley Lake began annexing commercial properties that had been identified as part of the new city of Peachtree Corners. Berkeley Lake annexed the properties prior to the date when Peachtree Corners officially became a city (July 1, 2012). The subdivision referenced in the mayor's notes was also to be a part of Peachtree Corners. FEMA reimbursed the city of Berkeley Lake $2.6 million for repairs to its dam which were damaged in the 2009 record-breaking rains.