Habersham County commissioners adopt FY2026 budget, then set 2025 millage rates

The Board of Commissioners opened the FY2026 budget process at a February planning retreat, where the Financial Administrator presented a financial update and budget goals, stating the county was striving for a balanced budget without a millage increase.

In May, a resident spoke against rolling back the millage rate, calling it irresponsible; a related agenda item to set an estimated tax roll-back rate for assessment notices was removed from that meeting's agenda before any vote.

At a June 16 work session, staff reviewed budget figures and commissioners debated a proposed 3.5% employee salary increase. That evening the board voted 5-0 to use the previous year's millage rate as the estimated rollback rate for tax assessment notices under HB 581, and scheduled special called meetings on June 23 and June 30 for the budget's first and second readings.

After a first reading and public hearing on June 23, the board held a second hearing on June 30 and voted 4-1 to adopt Resolution 2025-06-003, setting the FY2026 General Fund at $40,883,429 and total county funds at $80,366,107. The same night, commissioners voted 4-1 to approve Resolution 2025-06-004 amending the county fee schedule for FY2026.

In August, the board set the 2025 property tax rates funding that budget: a 3-2 vote approved the General Fund M&O millage rate at 11.272, and a 3-2 vote set the Hospital Debt Fund-Bonds rate at 1.129 and the Emergency Medical Services rate at 1.275. On August 27, commissioners voted 3-1 to adopt the Tax Levy Resolution setting the Habersham County Schools millage rate at 9.122 and authorizing the Chairman to sign the digest paperwork sent to the state.