Clarke County residents could see a drop in their property tax rates.
With 18-plus percent growth in property values across the county, Clarke County School District officials say they can roll back the property tax rate – known as the millage rate – for the first time in more than half a decade.
In a budget proposal currently under evaluation by members of the county’s Board of Education, the millage rate would decrease by six percent from 20 mils to 18.8.
The potential tax rate reduction comes in the same month as a similar proposal by Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz to roll back ACC’s millage rate by half a mil.
Property taxes are a crucial source of funding for both county government and the school district, each of which controls the tax rate for its portion of property tax revenue. For the school district, Chief Financial Officer Byron Schueneman told board members that even with a lower tax rate, the district will still be in good financial shape.
"Net total, at 18.2 mils, we're looking at bringing in $105.3 million," Schueneman told Board of Education members.
Property taxes are the largest source of funding for the school district. The state is expected to contribute some $72.4 million in funding this year to the CCSD.
