Dr. Solon, the presiding officer, called the third and final millage-rate hearing to order at 6:00 p.m. on June 20, saying the meeting was required by Georgia Code 48-5-32.1. "This millage rate hearing is required per Georgia code 48 dash 5 dash 32.1," Dr. Solon said.

Dr. Broom, chief financial officer for City Schools of Decatur, told the board and the public that the district has tentatively adopted a millage rate of 20.3 mills for fiscal year 2026 and that the computed rollback rate is 19.083 mills. "The Board of Education has tentatively adopted to maintain the current millage rate of 20.3 for fiscal year 2026," Dr. Broom said.

The district presented the mathematical effect of keeping the tentative millage at 20.3 rather than rolling it back to 19.083: a 6.38% increase in property taxes compared with the rollback rate. Using examples provided by the district, Dr. Broom said a property with a fair market value of $700,000 would face an estimated annual increase of approximately $426; a nonhomestead property with a fair market value of $900,000 would face an estimated increase of approximately $548. The district said the average increase is about $61 for every $100,000 of assessed value.

Officials cited several reasons for maintaining a millage rate above the rollback rate: to cover increases tied to state-mandated health benefits and teacher retirement contributions, to provide life insurance and competitive salary increases for full-time employees, to invest in safety and security, special education and instruction, and to keep the district's fund balance within the 4%–15% range set by board policy DCL. The proposed fiscal year 2026 budget shows total expenditures exceeding total revenue by $3.1 million; the district said that gap would reduce the projected beginning fund balance and leave an estimated ending fund balance of about $17.7 million.

Dr. Broom outlined staffing additions included in the proposed budget: six school-based positions and a new executive director position in the deputy superintendent's office. He also described the district's outreach and public-notice steps required when a millage rate exceeds the rollback rate: issuing a press release, advertising a five-year levy history, publishing the public hearings and providing statutory notices. The district said notices appeared in the Champion newspaper on June 5 and June 13 and on the district website.

The presentation included levy totals and collection estimates: at a millage rate of 20.3, the district listed total taxes levied for 2025 as $65,200,000 and estimated actual collections of about $64,000,000 after accounting for collection fees, delinquencies and appeals.

The hearing ended with a check for public comment. When asked whether anyone had signed up, staff member Ehson responded, "No, ma'am." With no public speakers, Dr. Solon adjourned the hearing at 6:12 p.m. The board is scheduled to vote on final adoption of the millage rate at a special virtual board meeting at 6:30 p.m. the same evening; the final adoption vote was not taken during the hearing.

Background and next steps: the district said the fiscal-year budgeting process began in September and included monthly budget discussions, community meetings and presentations by external auditors and partners. Dr. Broom said the printed budget book will be prepared in August and a feedback link will remain active on the district website.