RINGGOLD _  The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners approved the fiscal year (FY) 2027 County Government General Fund budget that is balanced and supported with a proposed property tax millage rate rollback of 4.491 mills, down from the FY 2026 rate of 4.641 mills. The rollback helps offset this year’s revaluation of properties by the Board of Assessors that is required by state law and reflects increases in fair market values of residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and utility properties.

The FY 2027 General Fund budget for county government services (excluding education) is $47,013,292 and reflects an increase of $152,833 (0.33%) over the prior year budget. The budget includes a $1 million transfer to the Capital Projects Fund.

The Board of Commissioners approved the Catoosa County Public Schools’ recommended millage rate of 15.75 mills, an increase over the 14.346 millage rate for FY 2026. The Board also approved the Public School’s issuance of $49 million in bonds to cover educational capital project expenses to be re-paid with proceeds from E-SPLOST collections. Both approvals were ministerial actions taken by the Board of Commissioners in its state mandated role as fiscal levying authority for the County.

The Board will set the county government millage rate during its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. The FY 2027 budget is effective October 1, 2026, and is available for review at the Administrative Offices Building, 800 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, and online here.