"That notice that you got right now, throw it in the trash."

Those words, that every Fulton County homeowner wants to hear, come from Commission Vice-Chairman Bob Elis concerning the 2017 tax assessments.

The county commission, in a unanimous vote, approved a measure that corrects the 2017 tax assessments by using the 2016 tax rates.

The decision by the board does not affect commercial properties and homeowners who have made improvements to their homes will also see an increase.

The corrective measure was sponsored by Commissioners Ellis, John Eaves and Liz Hausmann.

"The system is broken," Hausmann says. "It's inherently broken."

Commissioner Emma Darnell says in addition to fixing a problem, the vote also shows that the Fulton County government is willing to listen.

The new tax assessments will be completed within a few weeks and then be sent out to homeowners by August. Those homeowners can still appeal the assessment, if they so choose.

"You can still appeal," Ellis says, "but, as for the new digest, you'll probably like it a whole lot better than what you have right now.”