Public hearings scheduled on millage rate adoption

     Gwinnett County Public Schools tentatively adopted an unchanged millage rate of 18.70 mills for Maintenance & Operations (M&O) and 1.45 mills for Debt Service at the meeting on May 28, 2026. As required by law, the Gwinnett County Board of Education (BOE) will hold three public hearings as part of its process for setting the final millage rate. The first and second hearings will be held on July 27 at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The third public hearing will take place on August 3 at 6:00 p.m. All of the public hearings are scheduled to take place in the Board Room at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Rd NW, Suwanee, GA 30024.

     At the May 28, 2026, meeting, the Gwinnett County Board of Education (BOE) adopted its Fiscal Year 2027 Budget and tentatively adopted an unchanged millage rate in support of the budget. The millage rates were tentatively set for 18.70 for Maintenance & Operations (M&O) and 1.45 for Debt Service. Funds generated by the M&O millage pay for the day-to-day operations of the school system, including employee salaries, instructional materials, student transportation, and school utility costs. The debt-service millage is used to pay down the School Board’s long-term debt from bond referenda passed over the years to pay for school construction.

     In order to keep the local tax digest current, the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor’s Office conducts annual property value updates (reassessments) on a rotating basis. By state law, local taxing authorities, such as BOE, must either keep their tax collections revenue-neutral (by decreasing the millage rate to offset the gained taxes from the property value updates) or announce a tax increase (even if the actual millage rate is decreasing or remaining the same). The increase requires the announcement of a proposed property tax increase. However, taxpayers whose property values have not increased due to reassessment will see no increase. The administration is recommending the millage rate be unchanged and to be considered for final adoption by the BOE.

     The FY27 budget provides investments in the areas of compensation, school safety, school-based resources, literacy support, college and career readiness, and targeted school supports. Gwinnett County Public Schools’ enrollment for next school year is projected to be more than 178,000 students.

     Citizens may address the Gwinnett County Board of Education at any of the three public hearings. A sign-up sheet will be available at the hearings for those wishing to speak. There is no need to sign up in advance of the meeting date. A copy of the budget is available for public review on the school system’s website: www.gcpsk12.org or through the school system’s Budget Department. For more information, call 678-301-6200.

     Please use this link to learn "Five Things You Need to Know about the upcoming Millage Rate Public Hearings."