Dawsonville officials agreed last week that they had no intention of breaking one of the city’s longest-standing traditions — no property tax.

Mayor Joe Lane Cox made the announcement while officials reviewed a preliminary draft of the fiscal year 2011-12 budget.

The councilmen followed that up in a tentative 4-0 vote May 23 to roll the millage rate back to zero for next year.

City residents must still pay county property taxes.

Governments determine millage rates by calculating the dollar amount needed to fund general operations for the year.

A mill is equal to $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value. Assessed value is 40 percent of actual market value.

Dawsonville’s last tax was more than 30 years ago, according to municipal records.

There has been no change for city residents since then, aside from slight increases property owners may have experienced after their county values were reassessed.

Also at last week’s meeting, the city voted to approve a preliminary draft of the budget.

The document is available for the public to view at city hall.

City leaders could take another look at the budget during a meeting at 5 p.m. June 20.