LEESBURG, Ga. (WALB) — The Lee County Board of Education has rescheduled three public hearings on a proposed property tax increase.

The hearings will now be held at the following times:

• Thursday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 9 at 11:30 a.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.

The hearings were previously scheduled for Oct. 1, Oct. 2 and Oct. 8.

The Board of Education announced its intention to levy 2026 property taxes at a rate 28.70% higher than the rollback millage rate. The proposed rate is tied to the school system’s tentatively adopted budget.

All three hearings will be held at the Lee County Board of Education, 126 Starksville Ave. North in Leesburg.

The hearings will allow the public to comment on the proposed increase before the Board of Education finalizes its millage rate.

“Before the external constraints below impacted the school system’s financial position, the Lee County Board of Education was fully prepared to continue rolling back the millage rate. Unfortunately, those constraints have caused the proposed and advertised (tentative) millage rate to be 18.96, which is an increase of 3 mills over the amount levied for 2025. There are two primary reasons for this increase:

1. Recovery of Fund Balance - The refund of $3,279,925.68 in property taxes due to an error made by the Tax Assessor’s office must be recouped. There was no mistake made by the Board of Education in their tax calculations. These funds were originally budgeted for salary and benefit increases in the FY2026 budget and have already been expended. Approximately 2.02 mills of the millage rate increase represents the recovery of these funds.
2. ESPLOT Losses - The current E-SPLOST is projected to reach its maximum authorized collection amount and end in May or June, 2027. The school system is projected to lose approximately $4,000,000.00 in E-SPLOST revenue even if the voters approve a new E-SPLOST in November, 2027. The school system is also preparing for a significant - and necessary - project to replace the majority of the HVAC equipment at Lee County High School. Approximately 2 mills of the proposed increase is associated with this capital need.
3. Additional factors are the fact that approximately $500,000, or 0.309 mills, more is needed to offset a federal reduction in special needs funding, as well as a budgetary adjustment for unforeseen increases in diesel fuel costs is necessary (now at $6.40 per Gallon).
4. Finally, the school system must levy approximately $748,066.49 (0.462 mills) to pay for the 2.5% collection fee charged by the Lee County Board of Commissioners for the collection of school property taxes."

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