I live in Dekalb county Georgia and my lease was up June 15. I switched over to month to month renting. I asked the rental office what type of notice I had to give and they said 60 notice or pay for two additional months if I decide to leave early. Is this true? If so why even rent month to month?

You have to read the lease that you had. When you have a written lease that expires and you continue as a month-to-month tenant, all of the terms and conditions of the original lease still apply, except for the length of the term and the rent. If your original lease required a 60 day notice then this condition still applies during your month-to-month tenancy.

The advantage of your current situation is that you can move out with 2 months notice instead of being locked in and responsible for an entire year.

Do they have to give you a 60 day notice before they ask you to leave?

I am no expert by any means, but I thought that month to month was exactly that. The 60 day notcie just doesn't sound right to me, but I would listen to LisaB about this one and check your lease.