The Morning Drip for June 18, 2026

In this episode of The Morning Drip on WRTO.FM (Radio Free Georgia), broadcast live on Thursday, June 18, 2026, host Donovan dives into the sudden lack of dollar figures on local property tax assessments, breaks down a last-minute political retreat at the state capitol, and explores a provocative theory linking the iPhone to a global baby bust.

Quick Hits & Key Takeaways

•         The Missing Property Tax Estimates: Tiff County residents recently received their 2026 notices of assessment, triggering immediate social media uproar over fair market values spiking anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 (Donovan’s own went up $12,000). However, unlike previous years, the notices completely lack an estimated tax dollar figure.

•         The Reason Behind the Change: This structural shift is due to state tax reform under House Bill 581. Because local millage rates aren't actually voted on by the city, county, and school boards until late summer or fall, earlier tax estimates were frequently inaccurate and caused widespread confusion. The county is now prioritizing showing only fair market value and applied homestead exemptions; the math part won't appear until the official bill arrives later this year.

•         Appeal Deadlines & Rumored Chaos: The assessments were mailed on June 12, 2026, giving residents a strict 45-day window until July 27, 2026, to file an appeal. Donovan notes unverified neighborhood complaints circulating on social media claiming some residents are being told they can't even file their appeals until after that deadline passes.

•         A Radical Tax Solution?: A potential measure on the November ballot could allow municipalities to raise local sales tax to completely offset or abolish property taxes. Donovan strongly endorses this for Tifton, pointing to a study showing over half of Tiff County's sales tax revenue comes from non-residents passing through the I-75/Highway 82 nexus or escaping Florida hurricanes.

•         GOP Postpones Redistricting Session: In a stunning, last-minute pivot, Georgia Republican leaders unexpectedly shelved plans to redraw the state's congressional districts right before a special legislative session was set to begin. While Governor Brian Kemp called the session to leverage recent court rulings that weakened the Voting Rights Act, lawmakers backed off out of immense fear of political backlash. With competitive November races looming for U.S. Senator John Ossoff and the governor's race, leaders chose to wait and see how legal battles play out in other states rather than risk energizing Democratic voters.

•         Smartphones vs. The Global Birth Rate: The National Bureau of Economic Research released a provocative paper suggesting the smartphone era may be directly tied to declining U.S. fertility rates post-2007. By tracking counties with early AT&T mobile broadband coverage (the iPhone's exclusive initial carrier), researchers estimate smartphones could account for half of the U.S. fertility decline between 2007 and 2011. Theories include reduced face-to-face romance, digital streaming/pornography substitution, and easier access to reproductive health info—though Donovan reminds listeners this is a matter of correlation, not definitive causation.

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With Father's Day coming up this Sunday, how are you planning to spend the wet weekend—and did your 2026 property assessment give you a minor heart attack this week?