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August 15, 2026

Walker County Commissioners Set Special Work Session On FY2027 Budget, Millage Rate

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The Walker County Board of Commissioners will hold a special called work session next week to continue discussions surrounding the county’s upcoming budget and millage rate.

The work session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, at 1 p.m. in the conference room of the Walker County Administration Building, Courthouse Annex I, located at 101 S. Duke Street in LaFayette.

According to the meeting agenda, commissioners will focus on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and millage rate.

The agenda calls for Chairwoman Teems to open the meeting, followed by attendance and discussion of the FY2027 budget and millage rate. The meeting will adjourn following that discussion.

The special called work session is open to the public.

Walker County says anyone requiring assistance to participate in the meeting due to a disability should contact the County Clerk prior to the meeting.

The meeting comes as county commissioners continue working through financial decisions that will determine spending priorities and the property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year.

August 12, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

“Be Their Voice” Golf Tournament To Support Local Children’s Advocacy Center

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The Children’s Advocacy Center of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit is preparing for its 6th Annual “Be Their Voice” Golf Tournament, an event aimed at supporting services for children who have been victims of abuse.

August 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

LaFayette Identifies Source Of Elevated E. Coli Levels At Queen City Lake

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The City of LaFayette says it has identified the source of elevated E. coli levels that have kept the swimming area at Queen City Lake closed in recent weeks.

August 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Gas Prices Fall As Drivers See Relief At The Pump

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Georgia drivers are seeing some relief at the pump as gasoline prices continue to decline, with Northwest Georgia among the least expensive areas of the state.

August 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Board Of Education Plans Full Millage Rollback For 2026

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The Walker County Board of Education plans to adopt a full rollback millage rate of 14.013 mills during its meeting on Monday, August 17.

According to information released by Walker County Schools, the rollback rate is calculated using the previous year’s millage rate minus the millage equivalent of the total net assessed value added through property reassessments.

A public hearing on the proposed 2026 millage rate will be held at 6 p.m. on August 17 in the boardroom of the Walker County Department of Education, located at 301 N. Cherokee Street in LaFayette.

School district officials say they continue to work to balance the growing needs of students with efforts to keep local taxes as low as possible while also maximizing state funding.

Walker County Schools noted that over the past six years, the district has either lowered or maintained its millage rate. In 2019, the rate stood at 17.404 mills. For 2026, the district plans to adopt the full rollback rate of 14.013 mills.

All concerned citizens are invited to attend the public hearing.

August 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Seeks Assistant District Attorney

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The District Attorney’s Office for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit is accepting applications for a circuit-paid Assistant District Attorney position.

August 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Commissioners to Consider Extending Data Center Moratorium, Adopt 2027 Budget

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The Walker County Board of Commissioners is expected to tackle several major issues during its regular meeting on Thursday, August 6, including public hearings on the county’s proposed 2027 fiscal year budget and a proposal to extend the county’s temporary moratorium on new data centers from its current duration to 180 days.

August 2, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Queen City Lake Beach To Remain Closed As E. Coli Investigation Continues

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Queen City Lake Beach in LaFayette will remain closed into next week as city officials continue investigating elevated E. coli levels in the water.

The City of LaFayette says daily testing has been conducted in an effort to determine the source of the contamination. While E. coli levels remain elevated, officials say the testing patterns have been inconclusive. The city is expanding the testing area to collect additional data and develop a clearer picture of the problem.

City officials are also working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for guidance concerning the non-native duck population around the lake, which may be contributing to the elevated bacteria levels.

Residents have also reported a sewer leak located some distance from the shoreline. The line is privately owned, and the city says the organization responsible for it has begun making repairs. That work is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Officials say they do not want to draw conclusions before the testing is complete and will continue collecting data while the beach remains closed.

August 1, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Considers Tax Increase, Higher Safety Fee to Fund Additional Firefighters

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Walker County commissioners are considering several options to fund nine additional firefighter positions, including a potential property tax increase or higher public safety fees. The discussion took place during a special called meeting as county leaders continue work on the fiscal year 2027 budget.

County officials say adding nine firefighters would allow each fire engine to respond with a minimum of three firefighters, improving staffing levels and emergency response. To pay for the positions, one option discussed would increase the county millage rate by about 9% in unincorporated areas and 11% in incorporated areas. Another proposal would increase the county’s public safety fee, including eliminating the current $600 annual cap for larger homes.

Commissioners also discussed reducing the number of new positions, using reserve funds, or combining several funding options. Officials noted that although Walker County’s property tax digest has grown significantly over the past several years, repeated millage rate rollbacks have kept county property tax revenue relatively flat.

No decision has been made. Any increase in the millage rate would require public hearings before commissioners could take a final vote. The next Walker County Commission meeting is scheduled for August 6.

July 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Commissioners To Hold Budget Work Session Thursday

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The Walker County Board of Commissioners will hold a special called budget work session on Thursday, July 30, to discuss the county’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the conference room of Courthouse Annex I, located at 101 South Duke Street in LaFayette. According to the published agenda, commissioners will call the meeting to order, take attendance, conduct the Fiscal Year 2026 budget work session, and then adjourn.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Walker County Board of Commissioners is set for Thursday, August 6, at 6:30 p.m.