Newton County holds second public hearing on proposed 10.31% property tax increase

Newton County commissioners held a second public hearing July 29 on a proposed increase in the county—raction of the property tax bill that, if finalized, would raise the millage rate to 8.567 mills and increase property taxes by 10.31%.

Brittany White, Newton County finance director, told the Board of Commissioners the advertised, tentative millage supports the fiscal year 2026 budget adopted June 17, 2025. "Newton County has tentatively adopted a millage rate, which will require property taxes to increase by 10.31%," White said while reading the required property-tax notice into the record.

The finance director and commissioners said the advertised increase is tied to roughly $8.7 million in new budget items for FY26, with line-item increases White listed during the hearing: $3.7 million for a compensation and classification salary adjustment, $1.5 million for health insurance driven by an approximate 14% premium increase, $1.75 million as contingency for new positions mainly to staff facilities added by SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) projects, $1.0 million for public-works bridge repairs, and $750,000 for culvert replacements. White also read the public-notice examples showing a…