Bibb and Houston County schools consider tax increases. You can weigh in
With property values rising, the Bibb County and Houston County school districts are considering millage rates that remain unchanged from the previous year but could still lead to higher property taxes for some residents.
Georgia law requires three public hearings before final millage rates are set, giving Warner Robins and Macon locals a chance to voice concerns on the rates throughout August.
Bibb County Schools’ tentative tax increase of nearly 5%
Bibb County Schools recently adopted a millage rate of 14.674 mills, which the district said would result in a 4.65% increase in property taxes for homeowners.
BCSD Chief Financial Officer Eric Bush previously said maintaining the current millage rate would generate about $4 million in additional revenue for the district, which would help decrease its current 2026 fiscal year multi-million dollar budget deficit and maintain a healthy fund balance for the future.
In a July meeting, Bibb County board members unanimously voted to keep the millage rate the same, citing budget deficits and financial uncertainties — including previously frozen federal funds — as key reasons.
Board members Henry Ficklin and Daryl Morton voiced considering the broader financial picture at the time of the vote.
District spokesperson Stephanie Hartley clarified that the proposal to raise taxes was not started because the federal funds were frozen by President Donald Trump’s administration, and those have been restored.
“The district has proposed to maintain the millage rate at its current level of 14.674 mills. This is reported as a tax increase because of increases in property values,” Hartley said in an email.
She added that the district’s millage rate has decreased from 19.945 mills in fiscal 2017 to the proposed 14.674 mills, which is 0.652 mills above the rollback rate.
For a home with a fair market value of $200,000, the proposed annual tax increase would be about $47.60, and $52.16 for non-homestead properties of the same value, according to the district.
Houston County Schools announce tentative tax hike
The Houston County School District plans to increase its 2025 property tax levy by 11.68% and proposed a 2025 millage rate of 11.719 — unchanged from 2024 and lower than any actual rate for the school system since 1992, officials said.
Although the district is not raising its millage rate, overall commercial and residential property values, known as the tax digest, have risen in the community.
District CFO Michelle Morris said this means some homeowners may see a change in their tax bill if their property has been reassessed at a higher value by the county’s board of tax assessors.
“If a homeowner had a $200,000 home in 2024 and it remained valued at $200,000 this year, their district portion of the tax bill would not increase,” Morris said, noting that the impact on individual taxpayers depends on their property value.
Morris added that because the average reassessed property values have gone up across the county, the board of education is required to advertise it as a tax increase, even though the rate itself is staying the same.
The district said it’s still prioritizing transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars while meeting the needs of a growing community.
In February, both Bibb and Houston school districts opted out of House Bill 581, legislation that aimed to provide property tax relief for certain homeowners.
When can the public voice their concerns?
Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held on millage rates to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the property tax increase.
.The first two public hearings for Bibb County Schools were scheduled for July 31, and one person spoke at each, according to Hartley.
The final public hearing will be held on Aug. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the BCSD Professional Learning Center.
Houston County School District hearings are scheduled at 1100 Main St. in Perry on Aug. 11 at 6 p.m., Aug. 12 at 1 p.m. and Aug. 25 at 3 p.m.