On August 14, the board unanimously adopted the 2026 county millage rate along with the Stephens County Board of Education's recommended millage rate and the 2026 tax levy, setting the unincorporated county rate at 9.956 mills and the school board rate at 12.795 mills.
IssueStephens Countyapproved
Stephens County commissioners adopt FY2027 budget, then set 2026 millage rate
The county's general fund budget grows 5.82% for the year ahead, and commissioners have now set the property tax rates, including for county residents and the school board, that will fund it.
Latest
August 14, 2026: Adoption of 2026 County Millage Rate and Board of Education recommended Millage Rate
What happens next
No next step has been documented.
At a glance
What this means now
The story
At a January 2026 retreat, Chairman Rickman asked staff to build the FY27 budget around a full millage rollback for county residents.
In April, the Board of Commissioners held a two-day budget retreat, reviewing department-by-department budgets — including 911/EMA/Rescue, Fire, Public Works, Sheriff, Jail, Tax Commissioner and the courts — and working with staff toward a balanced FY2027 budget.
The proposed FY2027 budget released in May called for a $24,669,218 General Fund (up 5.82%) and a $55,133,988 total government-wide budget (up 32.81%), with a 3% merit pay increase for employees. The document set June 23, 2026 as the target adoption date.
Commissioners held a first reading and public hearing on the budget June 9, then a second reading and public hearing June 23, when they unanimously adopted the Fiscal Year 2027 budget on a motion by Commissioner Simmons, seconded by Commissioner Wright.
On August 14, the board unanimously adopted the 2026 county millage rate along with the Stephens County Board of Education's recommended millage rate and the 2026 tax levy, setting the unincorporated county rate at 9.956 mills and the school board rate at 12.795 mills.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
Appeared on agendaproposedFY2027 Data Processing/MIS budget more than doubles, driven by building/equipment repair and new jail equipment repair line
TOTAL 15350 DATA PROCESSING/MIS 87,177$ 117,558$ 151,000$ 331,520$
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FY2027 Data Processing/MIS budget more than doubles, driven by building/equipment repair and new jail equipment repair line
TOTAL 15350 DATA PROCESSING/MIS 87,177$ 117,558$ 151,000$ 331,520$
Appeared on agendaproposedBuilding Inspection department budget zeroed out, combined with another department
72200 BUILDING INSPECTION 109,169 109,169 - - * 0.00%
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Building Inspection department budget zeroed out, combined with another department
72200 BUILDING INSPECTION 109,169 109,169 - - * 0.00%
Appeared on agendaproposedEmergency Communications Fund FY2027 budget
Transfer from General Fund increased 6.92% due to increased operating cost
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Emergency Communications Fund FY2027 budget
Transfer from General Fund increased 6.92% due to increased operating cost
Appeared on agendaproposedFY2027 Human Resources operating budget cut, including reduced Employee Programs funding
TOTAL 15400 HUMAN RESOURCES 99,577$ 112,394$ 158,854$ 134,730$
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FY2027 Human Resources operating budget cut, including reduced Employee Programs funding
TOTAL 15400 HUMAN RESOURCES 99,577$ 112,394$ 158,854$ 134,730$
Appeared on agendaproposedFY2027 capital expenditures allocation
For FY2027, $904,090 in allocated
capital expenditures and $412,673 is unallocated.
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FY2027 capital expenditures allocation
For FY2027, $904,090 in allocated capital expenditures and $412,673 is unallocated.
Appeared on agendaproposedFY2027 Proposed County Budget
The FY2027 budget shall be officially adopted on June 23, 2026.
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FY2027 Proposed County Budget
The FY2027 budget shall be officially adopted on June 23, 2026.
Appeared on agendaproposedEmployee merit pay increase for FY2027
Approved a merit pay increase averaging 3% for employees
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Employee merit pay increase for FY2027
Approved a merit pay increase averaging 3% for employees
Appeared on agendaproposedGovernment-wide total expenditure budget for FY2027
PERCENTAGE INCREASE / DECREASE OF BUDGETPERCENTAGE INCREASE / DECREASE OF BUDGET 32.81%
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Government-wide total expenditure budget for FY2027
PERCENTAGE INCREASE / DECREASE OF BUDGETPERCENTAGE INCREASE / DECREASE OF BUDGET 32.81%
Appeared on agendaproposedGovernment-wide total revenue budget for FY2027
DOLLAR INCREASE / (DECREASE) OF BUDGET 13,510,854
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Government-wide total revenue budget for FY2027
DOLLAR INCREASE / (DECREASE) OF BUDGET 13,510,854
Appeared on agendaproposedFY2027 county-wide proposed budget total expenditures
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 43,330,608$ 40,662,220$ 41,513,126$ 55,133,988$ 32.81%
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FY2027 county-wide proposed budget total expenditures
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 43,330,608$ 40,662,220$ 41,513,126$ 55,133,988$ 32.81%
Appeared on agendaproposedFY2027 Rural Fire Protection budget increase
35700 RURAL FIRE PROTECTION 473,645 566,196 669,182 893,062 33.46%
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FY2027 Rural Fire Protection budget increase
35700 RURAL FIRE PROTECTION 473,645 566,196 669,182 893,062 33.46%
DiscusseddiscussedFY2027 Budget Retreat - department budget overviews and board discussion
The Board worked with administrative staff to get to a balanced budget for FY2027.
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FY2027 Budget Retreat - department budget overviews and board discussion
The Board worked with administrative staff to get to a balanced budget for FY2027.
DiscusseddiscussedFY27 budget retreat - departmental budget overviews and balancing the FY2027 budget (day 2)
The Board worked with administrative staff to get to a balanced budget for FY2027.
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FY27 budget retreat - departmental budget overviews and balancing the FY2027 budget (day 2)
The Board worked with administrative staff to get to a balanced budget for FY2027.
Appeared on agendaproposedFY27 budget retreat: department overviews and board discussion of proposed budgets
FY27 Budget Retreat
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FY27 budget retreat: department overviews and board discussion of proposed budgets
FY27 Budget Retreat
Appeared on agendaproposedTax Commissioner's office budget overview
5. Tax Commissioner – Dene Hicks
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Tax Commissioner's office budget overview
5. Tax Commissioner – Dene Hicks
DiscusseddiscussedFY27 budget retreat - departmental budget overviews (day 1)
Board reviewed departmental budgets. Staff was present to answer any questions the Board may have
had.
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FY27 budget retreat - departmental budget overviews (day 1)
Board reviewed departmental budgets. Staff was present to answer any questions the Board may have had.
DiscusseddiscussedFY27 budget retreat: departmental budget review (911/EMA/Rescue, Fire, Public Works, Shop & Solid Waste, Tax Commissioner, Clerk of Court, Probate Court, Superior Court, Sheriff, Jail, District Attorney, Public Defender, Library)
Board reviewed departmental budgets. Staff was present to answer any questions the Board may have
had.
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FY27 budget retreat: departmental budget review (911/EMA/Rescue, Fire, Public Works, Shop & Solid Waste, Tax Commissioner, Clerk of Court, Probate Court, Superior Court, Sheriff, Jail, District Attorney, Public Defender, Library)
Board reviewed departmental budgets. Staff was present to answer any questions the Board may have had.
Appeared on agendaproposed911, EMA, Rescue department budget overview
1. 911, EMA, Rescue – Danielle Rhodes
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911, EMA, Rescue department budget overview
1. 911, EMA, Rescue – Danielle Rhodes
Appeared on agendaproposedSheriff's Office and Jail budget overview
9. Sheriff
10. Jail
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Sheriff's Office and Jail budget overview
9. Sheriff 10. Jail
Appeared on agendaproposedShop and Solid Waste department budget overview
4. Shop & Solid Waste – Jason Holland
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Shop and Solid Waste department budget overview
4. Shop & Solid Waste – Jason Holland
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These links also preserve bookmarks to earlier timeline steps.
- August 14, 2026: Adoption of 2026 County millage rate and Board of Education recommended millage rate; 2026 Tax Levy
- August 14, 2026: 2026 property tax digest and list of pending appeals/arbitrations for Revenue Commissioner submission
- August 14, 2026: Adoption of 2026 County Millage Rate and Board of Education recommended Millage Rate
- June 23, 2026: Rural Fire Protection department budget for FY2027
- June 23, 2026: Second reading and public hearing on the FY2027 budget
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 Stephens County General Fund budget
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 countywide staffing levels
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 budget adoption
- June 23, 2026: Ambulance location building upgrades funding
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 General Fund budget
- June 23, 2026: Fire department part-time staffing increase
- June 23, 2026: Data Processing/MIS department budget for FY2027
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 Budget - second reading, public hearing, and adoption
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 budget for Data Processing/MIS department
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 Adopted Budget (Stephens County)
- June 23, 2026: Capital Projects Fund projects (computer/server upgrades, DA vehicle, historic documents preservation, jail repairs, building improvements, website mandated project)
- June 23, 2026: Adoption of Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
- June 23, 2026: Chamber of Commerce funding from Hotel/Motel Tax collections
- June 23, 2026: General Government (Fund 10000) budget for FY2027
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 budget for Human Resources department
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 employee merit pay increase (3%)
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 capital expenditures allocation
- June 23, 2026: Airport Authority budget for FY2027
- June 23, 2026: FY2027 government-wide adopted budget (total revenues and expenditures)
- June 9, 2026: FY2027 Budget, first reading and public hearing
- June 9, 2026: First reading and public hearing for the FY2027 Budget
- May 26, 2026: FY2027 General Administration budget, including transfers to Solid Waste, Emergency Communications and Capital Projects
- May 26, 2026: FY2027 property tax revenue projection
- May 26, 2026: New Legal Fees line item added to General Government budget
- May 26, 2026: FY2027 Chief Executive (Administration) budget, cut sharply as legal fees line is zeroed out
- May 26, 2026: 3% merit pay increase for county employees in FY2027 budget
- May 26, 2026: Solid Waste Enterprise Fund FY2027 budget
- May 26, 2026: Employee health insurance cost increase for FY2027
- May 26, 2026: FY2027 Capital Projects Fund budget increase
- May 26, 2026: Fire department part-time staffing funding increase
- May 26, 2026: FY2027 county-wide staffing levels (position count)
- May 26, 2026: FY2027 Airport Authority budget increase
- May 26, 2026: FY2027 Data Processing department budget increase
- May 26, 2026: FY2027 General Fund budget
- May 26, 2026: Capital Projects Fund FY2027 budget (computer/server upgrades, vehicles, website project)
- April 16, 2026: Library budget overview
- April 16, 2026: Public Defender's office budget overview
- April 16, 2026: District Attorney's office budget overview
- April 16, 2026: Fire Department budget overview
- April 16, 2026: Probate Court budget overview
- April 16, 2026: Clerk of Court office budget overview
- April 16, 2026: Public Works department budget overview
- April 16, 2026: Superior Court budget overview
- January 23, 2026: FY27 budget full millage rollback for county residents
- January 23, 2026: FY27 budget with full millage rollback for county residents
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