Treutlen School System Proposes Millage Rate Reduction After Property Reassessments

The Treutlen County Board of Education has reduced its 2026 millage rate from 13.987 mils to 12 mils following property value reassessments in the county.

“We want our community to understand why upcoming state-required notices may refer to a property tax ‘increase’ even though the Board is proposing to lower the actual millage rate,” said Treutlen County Superintendent Dr. Susan Stone in a press release.

The Treutlen County Tax Assessors conducted a reassessment of local property values as of January 1, 2026, leading to a rise in property values in the area. In response, the board proposed lowering the school’s millage rate to 12 mils.

Millage rates are rates set by local governing bodies and boards of education representing “a tax liability of one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value” according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. A set millage rate is used in conjunction with 40 percent of a property’s assessed value to calculate the amount of property taxes owed by a resident.

The board chose 12 mils as the new rate to allow the Treutlen County School System to remain eligible for the state’s Low-Wealth Capital Outlay Program. This program provides grants specifically targeted towards school systems in areas which may otherwise struggle to fund schools through tax revenues.

“This funding can save our local taxpayers significant dollars on major facility projects,” said Dr. Stone. “A recent example is our HVAC replacement project, for which Treutlen County Schools received approximately $1.2 million in state funding.”

In addition to providing the school with extra funding, the new millage rate is aimed towards providing tax relief for Treutlen County residents by shifting the burden of funding towards the program grants.

“This approach allows the Board to balance two important responsibilities: reducing the millage rate for our taxpayers and protecting opportunities to bring state dollars back to Treutlen County for major facility needs,” said Dr. Stone. “These state funds can significantly reduce the amount that would otherwise have to be funded locally.”

While the new rate is a reduction by 14.21 percent compared to the previous rate, 12 mils will be above the calculated rollback, which is intended to offset the increased property taxes from the reassessments. So, the Treutlen County School System is required by Georgia law to advertise a tax increase and hold three public hearings on the topic.

“It is important to understand that the Board is still proposing to lower the actual millage rate,” said Dr. Stone. “The advertised increase is based on the state-required comparison to the rollback rate, which reflects changes in property values due to reassessments. Individual tax bills may vary depending on changes in property assessments and applicable exemptions.”

The dates for the public hearings have not yet been announced by the Treutlen County Board of Education.