Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Cooper Hampton says millage rates have now been set for Chattooga County, Chattooga County Schools, Menlo and Lyerly, with each entity adopting the rollback millage rate.

Even with the rates set, 2026 property tax bills cannot yet be mailed because the county is still waiting on approval from the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Hampton said the Department of Revenue must review the county’s documents and calculations to make sure the tax digest has been completed in accordance with Georgia law.

According to Hampton, the county has been cleared in all areas except for the number of property tax appeals. Once the required threshold is met, the county can receive state approval and move forward with its application for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant.

Hampton said she is hopeful approval can be obtained while grant funds are still available.

The Tax Commissioner’s Office already has all current millage rates entered into its system and can provide taxpayers with their 2026 tax bill amounts, but the office cannot yet accept payments.

Hampton said she has calculated Chattooga County’s application for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant at $2,005,681.34 on behalf of county taxpayers.

Of that amount, $1,131,465.33 would go toward the county school portion of taxes shown on the Five Year History, while $874,216.02 would go toward the county portion.

Hampton noted that all cities in Chattooga County, along with Trion City Schools, will apply separately for funding through the same grant program.

The Tax Commissioner also said several letters have recently been mailed by the Chattooga County Assessor’s Office in response to appealed property values.

Taxpayers who receive one of those letters are being encouraged not to delay in responding.

Hampton said her office can also provide estimates based on new property values sent out by the Assessor’s Office, helping taxpayers understand what those revised values could mean for the amount of taxes they may owe.

For more information, taxpayers can contact the Chattooga County Tax Commissioner’s Office at 706-857-0702.