HARRIS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HOLDS SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2026 MILLAGE RATE

At its 6:30 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the Harris County Board of Commissioners (BOC) convened for the second—and penultimate—public hearing on the county’s proposed 2026 millage rate. Commissioners heard from a steady stream of residents concerned about rising property-tax burdens and sought clarity on how their tax dollars will be allocated.

“The Board has no intention of raising the millage rate at this time,” said Chairman Robert Grant, noting that current revenue projections sufficiently cover anticipated county expenditures. He reminded the audience, however, that the Board of Education (BOE) operates under a separate taxing authority and retains sole discretion over school-system levies.

Several speakers urged Commissioners to scrutinize county spending for potential savings before considering any rate hike. “If they’re going to ask us for more money,” one resident observed, “we deserve to know where every dollar is going—from road repairs to sheriff’s salaries.”

Meanwhile, Harris County School Board Superintendent Dr. Justin Finney—who was in attendance—confirmed that the BOE is actively evaluating its finances in anticipation of a roughly 14 percent property-tax increase proposal. “Our goal is to ensure equitable, high-quality education across all campuses,” Dr. Finney explained. “I welcome an opportunity to sit down with the Commissioners and community stakeholders to review the district’s budget line by line.”

When challenged by Georgia Transparency (GT) to commit to holding the millage rate flat in 2026, Chairman Grant reiterated the BOC’s position: “We’re prepared to keep our county rate steady—but ultimately, the school-district rate rests with the BOE.”

With public concern mounting over escalating property taxes, both governing bodies face mounting pressure to demonstrate fiscal discipline and transparency. Georgia Transparency will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as the millage-rate process concludes later this month.