Property Tax Increase Proposed for Columbia County Residents

The Columbia County Board of Education has adopted a millage rate that would require roughly a 12% increase in property taxes.

The board will host three public hearings to allow residents to comment on whether the School District's millage rate of 17.35 mills should be subject to rollback.

The School District rolled back its millage rate to 17.35 mills last year, the lowest since 2012.  It was the second consecutive year board members approved lowering the millage rate.  Officials say due to an overall increase in the net assessed property value as calculated by the Columbia County Tax Assessor's Office, the proposed rate is considered a tax increase over the rollback rate.

The school board will continue to meet in the weeks ahead to set a millage rate to fund the fiscal year 2024 budget.  Officials say 84% of the General Fund budget focuses on school-based instructional and student support services.  The primary sources of revenue for the district come from state funding and local tax dollars.

Officials are projecting the school system will add another 400 students when the school year begins in August.

Public hearings on the proposed property tax increase will be held June 29 at 4 pm at Grovetown High School; July 11 at 5:30 pm at the Board of Education building on Hereford Farm Road; and July 25 at 6:00 pm at the Board of Education on Hereford Farm Road.