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Muscogee County board adopts FY26 budget and keeps millage at 23.075
Summary
After a public hearing, the Muscogee County School District board approved the FY2026 budget with a 3% across‑the‑board raise and voted to keep the 2025 millage rate at 23.075, a level above the rollback rate that requires notice under Georgia law.
The Muscogee County School District Board of Education on June 23 adopted its fiscal year 2026 budget and approved a millage rate of 23.075, after a third and final public hearing on the proposed tax rate and budget.
The district’s proposal includes a 3% pay increase for employees and reflects an estimated 18% rise in budgeted health insurance costs. Kia Chambers, chair of the finance committee, read the statutorily required public‑notice language and said the proposed rate is unchanged from FY25 but 0.599 mills above the rollback rate of 22.476, which under Georgia law requires the district to announce a proposed property tax increase.
The millage vote followed public comments from residents who asked why they would see higher bills and questioned a roughly $4 million increase in budgeted expenditures. Sherry Carmack, a River Road resident, said she is a widow and worried about higher taxes; Glover Gossett, a North Columbus resident, said many homeowners lack homestead exemption and raised concerns about dipping into reserve funds to balance operations.
Superintendent Dr. Lewis and district financial staff responded that the millage rate itself remains 23.075, that the extra revenue would come from properties with increased values or new property on the tax digest and not from homestead‑exempt properties whose bills typically remain unchanged. The superintendent said approximately 60% of district funding comes from the state and 40% locally, and noted cost pressures including higher health‑care premiums and increased employer contributions to the Georgia Teacher Retirement System.
Board members moved and passed the budget as presented; the motion to approve the FY26 all‑funds budget was made by Chambers and seconded by Naomi Buckner. The millage motion was moved by Miss Butler and seconded by Vanessa Jackson; both measures passed at the June 23 meeting.
Board members asked district staff for supplemental detail after the vote, including an itemized comparison of the current salary supplement schedule and the proposed 3% adjustment and a full “all‑in” cost estimate for specific compensation scenarios requested for further consideration.
The board’s action completes the district’s legal hearing requirements under Georgia law and authorizes staff to implement the FY26 budget and payroll changes.
