Harris County Schools Propose 15.44% Property Tax Hike

Background

The Harris County School District, headquartered in Hamilton, Georgia, serves a diverse community spanning Cataula, Ellerslie, Fortson, Hopewell, Pine Mountain, Shiloh, Waverly Hall, West Point, and other unincorporated areas. With over 274 full-time faculty and more than 5,400 students enrolled from pre-K through 12th grade, the district is a key pillar of the west-central Georgia educational landscape Wikipedia. Simultaneously, Harris County’s population, having grown from 34,668 in the 2020 census to an estimated 37,448 residents in 2025, underscores ongoing demographic shifts that continue to pressure educational resources and infrastructure WikipediaWorld & Population Review.

County & District Profile

Spanning roughly 473 square miles along the Alabama border, Harris County has evolved into one of Georgia’s wealthiest exurban communities, ranking sixth in per-capita income statewide and third outside Metro Atlanta. This affluence has fueled robust local tax bases, yet it also places a spotlight on the balance between property wealth and public service funding Wikipedia. For the school district, this economic backdrop both supports ambitious educational programs and heightens scrutiny of any proposed increases in local levies.

Last Year’s Levy

In August 2024, the Board of Education adopted a modest 3.55% increase in its millage rate, raising it from the rollback rate of 15.934 mills to 16.500 mills for the 2024 tax year Harris County School District. That adjustment translated to an approximate $57 annual increase on a homeowner’s $250,000 property valuation, reflecting the district’s incremental approach to revenue growth in the face of inflation and operational costs Harris County School District.

2025–26 Tax Proposal

On July 31, 2025, the Harris County Board of Education tentatively adopted a new millage rate that would require a 15.44% increase in property taxes for the 2025–26 fiscal year. This proposal would raise the millage from 16.025 mills—the rollback threshold—to 18.500 mills, marking a significant uptick in local school taxation Harris County School District. State law mandates three public hearings when a proposed rate exceeds the rollback rate, and the district has scheduled meetings for August 7, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., August 14 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and August 19 at 10:00 a.m., all in the central office auditorium Harris County School District.

Impact on Residents

If approved, the increase would add roughly $320 in annual school taxes for a home assessed at $400,000, and approximately $200 for non-homestead properties valued at $250,000. This change reflects the district’s effort to match rising costs of instruction, support services, and facility maintenance with local revenue capacity Harris County School District. For many households, the combined tax obligations—including county and school levies—will be a key consideration when reviewing their annual budgets.

Budget Breakdown

Property taxes remain the single largest source of revenue for the school district, anticipated to generate $32.395 million of the general fund’s $78.913 million in FY 2026. With total estimated revenues at $92.896 million, the budget allocates $49.522 million to instructional services, $7.550 million to student transportation, and $6.405 million to maintenance and operations. Other expenditures include $4.713 million for school administration and $3.405 million for pupil services, ensuring a broad spectrum of student support and operational needs are met Harris County School District.

Revenue Sources Beyond Property Taxes

In addition to ad valorem collections, the district’s FY 2026 budget draws on a variety of funding streams: $38.951 million in Quality Basic Education (QBE) state allocations, $3.192 million in equalization grants, $2.600 million from Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), and $4.560 million from SPLOST receipts for capital projects. Federal and miscellaneous grants—ranging from Medicaid reimbursements to Perkins CTAE funds—supplement local revenues and support specialized programs Harris County School District.

Community Engagement

As part of its transparent budgetary process, the district presented the tentative FY 2026 budget on May 1, 2025, and hosted public forum meetings on June 3 and June 12 to gather stakeholder feedback. These sessions, held in the Board of Education central office board room, allowed parents, staff, and community members to voice priorities and concerns before the Board’s final adoption in mid-June Harris County School District. The upcoming tax increase hearings represent the next phase of this dialogue, focusing specifically on property tax impacts and trade-offs.

Combined Tax Outlook

Residents should be aware that the school district’s proposed 18.500-mill levy, when combined with the Harris County Commission’s suggested 9.13-mill county rate (a 2.97% increase above the rollback of 8.867 mills), could result in a total local tax rate of 27.630 mills. This aggregate figure underscores the importance of understanding how different layers of local government funding intersect on an individual tax bill Harris County School District & Harris County, Georgia.

Next Steps

Following the series of public hearings on August 7, 14, and 19, the Board of Education will review community feedback and finalize the millage rate for FY 2026. This rate will appear on property tax statements mailed in the autumn, funding the district’s operations from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Stakeholders are encouraged to attend the hearings to stay informed and contribute to the conversation on educational funding in Harris County.