Chattooga County property owners now know one major part of their 2026 property tax calculation, while another will be determined Friday.

The Chattooga County Board of Education has set its 2026 millage rate at 8.518 mills, a reduction of 1.531 mills from last year’s rate of 10.049 mills.

The school system’s five-year tax history shows the rate has declined considerably in recent years. The net school millage was 12.404 mills in 2021, 12 mills in 2022, 10.898 mills in 2023, 10.597 mills in 2024 and 10.049 mills last year before dropping to 8.518 mills for 2026.

However, the value of property on the school tax digest has increased substantially. The school system’s net digest value increased from approximately $727.9 million in 2025 to $928.5 million this year.

As a result, even with the lower millage rate, the school system’s notice projects $7,908,923 in maintenance and operation property taxes, compared with $7,314,460 last year — an increase of approximately $594,462, or 8.13 percent.

Attention now turns to the Chattooga County government’s millage rate.

Sole Commissioner Andy Allen will set the county government’s 2026 millage rate during a public meeting Friday at 1 PM at the Hurley Community Development Center, 10050 Commerce Street in Summerville. The county will also adopt its 2026 Tax Levy Resolution.

Allen has not released the county’s proposed rate ahead of Friday’s meeting.

The school and county millage rates are separate components of a property owner’s tax bill. The amount an individual property owner ultimately pays also depends on the property’s taxable value and applicable exemptions and rollbacks.

WZQZ News will have the county’s new millage rate following Friday’s meeting.