Atlanta’s Public Protection Rating Drops

Georgia’s top insurance regulator said Atlanta homeowners could be paying 10 percent more for their insurance unless the city hires more firefighters and shows it training is up to snuff.

Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine revealed the preliminary findings of a report by the New Jersey-based insurance rating service Insurance Services Office (ISO) that found Atlanta’s public protection classification rating dropped from 2 to 4 on a scale of 10, with 1 being the best rating.

He said Atlanta has nine months to make changes that will allow the city to keep its current rating or drop to a 3.

Many insurance companies use the rating to help determine how much homeowners should pay for insurance.

City officials said they are confident they will maintain the current rating.