Hall County residents are about to get a say in a proposed school-tax hike that would push the district’s millage rate higher as officials stare down a projected $9.8 million general-fund gap. The Hall County Board of Education has tentatively backed the increase as part of its FY2027 budget process, but the rate is not final yet.
According to WSB-TV, the proposal would set the rate at 15.490 mills. The station reported that figure as a 6.95% property-tax increase, or 1.006 mills, while the district’s budget document separately lists the current rate at 14.99 mills.
Three Hearings Are Scheduled In Gainesville
The first public hearing is Monday at 6 p.m. Two more are scheduled for August 24 at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Hall County Board of Education Central Office, where residents can comment on the budget and millage proposal, WSB-TV reports.
Hall County Schools’ official FY2027 budget plan says keeping the current 14.99-mill rate would leave a projected $9.8 million general-fund deficit. The plan estimates about $4.6 million in additional revenue against $11.7 million in higher expenses, with rising health insurance, retirement, transportation and state-mandated staffing costs among the pressure points.
Why The District Says More Revenue Is Needed
The district’s materials say recent homestead-exemption changes reduced FY2026 property-tax collections by $11.1 million and could force the use of $6 million to $10 million in reserves. The same district budget document warns that a proposed change lowering the senior-exemption eligibility age from 70 to 66 could cut annual revenue by another $9 million to $12 million if voters approve it in November.
The budget plan says the board tentatively plans to adopt the millage rate and FY2027 budget after the third hearing on August 24. Until then, the proposal remains subject to public input and any updated tax-digest figures received before the vote.
