The Newton County Board of Education (BOE) tentatively adopted a maintenance and operation budget for fiscal year 2016-17. The total millage rate of 20 mills will go to operational budget.

This year’s millage rate is the same as adopted by the BOE last year.

Although the millage rate did not increase, property assessments rose by 5.21 percent this year. State law requires entities to hold public hearings if the millage rate is not reduced by the same percentage assessment’s rose. It is considered a tax increase.

If the millage rate is reduced 5.21 percent, taxpayers will pay 19.010 mils per thousand dollars of property value. If it remains the same, the increase for a home with a fair market value of $125,000 is approximately $45.54 and the proposed tax increase for nonhomestead property with a fair market value of $100,000 is approximately $39.60.

The BOE will hold three public hearings on the fiscal year 2017 tentative budget, the millage rates, and the increase in property taxes at the Wendell Clamp Board Room in the Newton County Board of Education Administrative Offices, 2109 Newton Drive, Covington:

- Thursday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m.

- Tuesday, July 19 at 9 a.m.

- Tuesday, July 19 at 5:30 p.m.