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Cherokee County adopts new millage package after final public hearing, board splits 3-2
Summary
After a final public hearing with multiple residents urging fiscal restraint, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to adopt an 8.999-mill county package (M&O 5.712, fire 3.023, bond 0.264) to fund FY27 priorities and preserve reserves.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on Aug. 4 to adopt a county-controlled millage package totaling 8.999 mills, pledging to balance competing priorities of employee pay and fund reserves. Chairman Harry Johnston moved the package and said the split would let the county maintain services while moving toward a more sustainable reserve level.
The adopted county rates are a County M&O of 5.712 mills, a fire tax rate of 3.023 mills and a parks-bond rate of 0.264 mills. "MNO rate, 5.712, fire tax rate of 3.023, and the bond rate of 0.264," the chair summarized when placing the motion on the table. The board recorded a 3-2 vote; "the motion does carry," the chair announced, noting Commissioners Ragsdale and Kegel opposed the package.
The vote followed an extended presentation by CFO Lonnie Chuck Denkins explaining that digest growth for 2026 was weak after exemptions, the floating homestead exemption now represents a large share of the tax digest, and the county planned to use limited reserves if necessary. Denkins told the board, "I'll be fairly quick because I think this is the 4th or 5th time a lot of people have seen this particular presentation," before walking through detailed graphs on exemptions, fund balance, and the proposed millage scenarios.
Residents who signed up for the hearing urged different approaches. Public commenters pressed the board for fiscal restraint and for exploring a local one-percent sales tax (HOST) to reduce property-tax pressure, while others asked the board to preserve services. After the hearing closed, commissioners debated alternatives and agreed to task management to continue finding cuts while adopting the rate package now to meet tax-commissioner deadlines.
What happens next: the board certified the Board of Education rates as presented and will continue budget work through the remainder of the fiscal process. The adopted county rates will be delivered to the tax commissioner as required by state law.
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