Chatham County adopts 2025 millage rates; commissioners approve budget and 2‑mill SSD increase to fund county fire services

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted the 2025 millage rates and approved related budget actions that include a 2‑mill increase in the special service district (SSD) levy intended to fund county fire services.

Chairman Cheshire A. Ellis opened the commission’s third public hearing on the county’s proposed millage and read the state‑required disclosures, saying the county has advertised a general fund rate of 10.518 mills and an SSD rate of 6.502 mills. "The Chatham County Board of Commissioners have announced publicly its intent to increase the property taxes it will levy this year," Ellis said during the hearing.

The hearing followed months of debate over how to fund a county‑run fire service after the county absorbed formerly volunteer departments and a court challenge to a prior "fire fee." County staff and commissioners told residents that the county used reserves last year to cover fire operations but recommended the SSD increase for a sustainable budget.

Why it matters: The SSD levy applies only to properties in unincorporated Chatham County and is intended to pay for services such as police, fire and trash pickup there. County officials and residents repeatedly framed the dispute as a tradeoff between ending a subscription‑style fire fee and creating a stable tax‑based revenue stream to operate a consolidated county fire department.

What the board approved and the budget math - General fund millage (M&O): 10.518 mills (advertised as 0.342 mills higher than the rollback rate). The board approved adoption of the general fund tax rate as presented. - Special Service District (SSD) millage: 6.502 mills (advertised as 2.138 mills higher than the rollback rate; a figure the county explained…