This is millage rate week in Ware County as the Ware County Board of Education, Waycross City Commission, and Ware County Commission adopt property tax levels for the coming year.
Each of the governing bodies has been recommended by Ware Tax Commissioner Roger Collins to approve a rollback rate that will still provide more revenue than last year despite not being a tax increase.
The school board meets at noon today (Wednesday, August 12) to consider a rate of 13.6340 while the city commission meets at 5 p.m. to consider a rate of 8.3970. Ware commissioners meet at 4 p.m. Thursday to approve the school board’s rate and adopt the county’s rate of 11.4190.
Rate approval is a few weeks earlier than past years in order for Collins’ office to enhance the county’s chances of getting a portion of an $844 million grant being offered by the state to help offset the difference in properties with homestead exemptions and those with regular tax bills. He said the grant would cover the first $18,000 of every homestead property.
“There’s a sense of urgency this year because of the state grant,” Collins told the city commission at its planning and information session August 3. “They’ve only allotted $844 million which won’t cover everyone in the state and it’s first-come-firstserved. And they don’t know if they’ll put any more in the pot when they run out.”
The proposed rate for the school board is compared to last year’s rate of 13.7300 which left the board with a shortfall of $226,163 compared to the previous rate. Despite the lower rate this year, the schools will realize an estimated $987,759.
Last year’s city rate was 8.550, which led to a deficit of $103,384. This year’s lower rate, the third straight rollback for the city, is expected to produce about $774,556 in revenue.
The county rate of 11.5029 in 2025 led to a revenue drop of $181,815. This year’s rate is anticipated to produce $1,185,815 in funds.
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