Chattooga County’s tax digest has grown by more than $133 million over the past year, but county government is expected to levy nearly $933,000 less in maintenance and operations property taxes for 2026.

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen set the county’s 2026 maintenance and operations millage rate at 7.959 mills during a meeting held Friday afternoon at the Hurley Community Development Center in Summerville.

The new rate is down from 10.281 mills in 2025, a reduction of 2.322 mills.

The reduction comes as the value of Chattooga County’s total net property tax digest continues to grow. According to figures presented by the county, the total net digest increased from approximately $778.6 million in 2025 to $912.3 million in 2026. That’s an increase of approximately $133.6 million, or about 17 percent.

Despite the larger tax digest, the lower millage rate means county government is projected to collect less in maintenance and operations property taxes.

The county’s five-year levy history shows approximately $5.53 million in M&O property taxes will be levied for 2026, compared with approximately $6.46 million last year. That’s a decrease of approximately $932,735, or 14.43 percent.

For property in the unincorporated portions of Chattooga County, the county’s gross rate of 7.959 mills is reduced by a 2.572-mill rollback associated with Local Option Sales Tax and insurance premium tax revenues. That results in a net M&O millage rate of 5.387 mills for the unincorporated area.

The county projects approximately $3.62 million in M&O property taxes from the unincorporated area.

For incorporated areas, the county’s M&O millage rate is 7.959 mills, with approximately $1.91 million projected to be levied.

The figures presented Friday also illustrate how dramatically Chattooga County’s tax digest has changed in recent years.

In 2021, the county’s total net digest was approximately $438.2 million. Five years later, the 2026 digest stands at more than $912.2 million — more than double its 2021 level.

During the same period, the county’s gross M&O millage rate has fallen from 18.356 mills in 2021 to 7.959 mills this year.

The reduction in the county’s overall tax levy does not necessarily mean every property owner will see a lower tax bill. Individual bills can vary based on changes in assessed property values, applicable homestead or other exemptions, school taxes and other levies.

The Chattooga County Board of Education has already established its 2026 millage rate, while Friday afternoon’s meeting established the county government’s portion of the property tax levy.