The Newton County Board of Education adopted a tentative 2014-2015 budget based on a total millage rate of 20.45 mills.
This rate is comprised of 20 mills for the operational budget and .45 mills for debt service. This millage rate is less than the rate that was adopted by the board last year, which totaled 21.9 mills – 20 mills for the operational budget and 1.9 mills for debt service.

Therefore, there will be no property tax increase for school purposes unless property was reassessed by more than about seven percent.

Although the tentatively adopted budget does not reflect a total millage increase, legislation states that if the millage rate is not reduced by the same percentage that the digest increased due to reassessment (7.94 percent), the public must be notified that the board is increasing taxes.

Since the board is not reducing the millage rate, in accordance with “The Taxpayer Bill of Rights,” the Board of Education will hold three public hearings regarding the 2015 budget, the millage rates and the increase in property taxes.

The first meeting was held Thursday, July 10 at 6 p.m., and the following meetings will be on Tuesday July 22 at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Newton County Board of Education Administrative Offices, located at 2109 Newton Drive in Covington.