Clayton County Board of Commissioners Special Called Meeting - February 12, 2026 (Millage Rate and Personnel)
Clayton County Board of Commissioners Special Called Meeting - February 12, 2026
The Board of Commissioners held a special called meeting on February 12, 2026, to adopt the fiscal year 2025-2026 millage rates for the county and the school district, with a full rollback resulting in no property tax increase. The meeting also included public comments, discussion on fund balance and revenue diversification, and an executive session leading to the acceptance of the clerk's resignation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Shelley Hallowell (Clayton County resident): Expressed gratitude to the board for rolling back the millage rate, noting that her city had raised rates and residents had to fight it. She thanked commissioners for considering residents' economic hardships.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 2025-182 – County Millage Rate Rollback: The finance director introduced the resolution to establish the net mill rates after credit (rollback) for values added by reassessment for FY2025-2026. The chairwoman confirmed the millage rate is not an increase, though individual property taxes may rise if property values increase.
- Commissioner Allen asked about the fund balance (reported ~$86 million as of the prior Tuesday) and when the county could reach a $104 million target. The finance director explained that property tax revenues arrive mostly in November/December and that fund balance automatically increases when expenses are less than revenues.
- Commissioner Reeves questioned whether expenses have been exceeding revenues in recent years and noted that after the 2023 rollback, the 2024 full millage rate tripled the net tax revenue (from $1.7 million to $49.8 million). He asked what would prevent a similar spike next year and stressed that without cutting expenses, a property tax increase may be necessary.
- The chairwoman emphasized the need for diversified revenue streams (e.g., attracting businesses like Trader Joe’s) to grow the fund balance. The county manager suggested a reprioritization of services and potential cuts to address funding needs.
- The resolution passed unanimously.
- Resolution 2025-183 – School District Millage Rate: Acknowledged receipt of the school board's certified net mill rate after rollback for FY2025-2026. The board confirmed it was simply approving what the school board had already adopted. The resolution passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 2025-182 (County millage rate rollback) approved unanimously.
- Resolution 2025-183 (School district millage rate acknowledgement) approved unanimously.
- Executive Session: Held for personnel matters. Upon reconvening, the board accepted the clerk's resignation effective immediately and authorized the HR director to effectuate the resignation per civil service rules. Motion passed unanimously.
- Meeting adjourned at 10:31 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
I'm sorry. The date is August 28th, 2025, and the time is 10 a.m. All right. At this time, for we will do roll call, district one. Here. District 3. Present. District 2. Present. And district 4. All right. At this time, instead of invocation, um, I would like for us to all take a moment of silence. We've had two major incidences. One has been the school shooting in Minneapolis, as well as one of our officers, um, Lieutenant Warren Toro has suffered from a heart attack and is currently in Grady right now. And um, he's out of ICU, but I'd like for us to just take a moment of silence for some of the things that are going on in our community and throughout this nation. Will everybody please bow their heads for a moment of silence? Thank you. All right. Will you please stand for the pledge of allegiance to our flag? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And I want to make sure you all know he's in ICU right now. All right. Next will be our adoption of our agenda. At this time, I need a motion to adopt the agenda. Before we adopt the agenda, I noticed that there wasn't an option for public comment on this agenda, so I'd like to make a motion that we add an item for public um public comment. All right. Can we get a second? Second. All right. Is there any discussion at this time? Are you ready for the vote? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Any abstentions? The ayes have it, and the motion carries. Um, is there anyone that would like to come up for public comment at this time? Or do we what do you want us to do? Um you got to finish adopting the agenda. Then then we'll go into public comment. I but I just want to know by show of hands before we get started. Is there anyone who would like to come up? All right, so we have one. All right, thank you. All right, so we will move on. At this time, I I would we need to adopt the agenda. All right, can I get a motion to adopt the agenda? So move.
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