The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners approved the fiscal year (FY) 2026 County Government General Fund budget that is balanced and supported with a property tax millage rate rollback of 4.641 mills, down from the FY 2025 rate of 4.947 mills. The rollback helps offset this year’s revaluation of properties by the Board of Assessors that is required by state law and reflects increases in fair market values of residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and utility properties.
Officials said the revenue neutral rollback rate was 4.789 mills, which was the original proposal. But the board decided to rollback further to 4.641 mills.
The FY 2026 General Fund budget for county government services (excluding education) is $46,860,459 and reflects an increase of $3.6 million over the prior year budget. The budget includes a three percent cost of living adjustment for full-time employees. The State of Georgia did not provide a cost-of-living adjustment for elected officials. Additionally, the budget includes a $1.5 million transfer to the Capital Projects Fund for additional paving and stormwater projects.
Millage rates are used with property assessments to calculate a home’s annual property taxes. As an example, using the average fair market value of a Catoosa County home of $300,000, the annual Catoosa County General Government portion of a home’s annual property tax (excluding public schools and cities) is calculated using several factors:
· 40% of Assessed Value: $120,000
· County Homestead Exemption (If exemption claimed in prior year): $12,000
· Taxable Value: $108,000
· Millage rate rollback: 4.641 mills
· FY 2026 County Government property tax: $501.23 (108,000 X .004641)
The FY 2026 budget is effective October 1, 2025, and is available for review at the Administrative Offices Building, 800 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, and online here.