Public hearings scheduled on millage rate adoption

      Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) tentatively lowered the millage rate by 0.2 mills, as adopted at the May 15, 2025, board meeting. 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 August 6 at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The third public hearing will take place on August 13 at 6:00 p.m. All public hearings are scheduled to take place in the Board Room at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Road NW in Suwanee.

     At the May 15, 2025, meeting, the Gwinnett County BOE adopted its Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and tentatively adopted a lower millage rate in support of the budget. During the budget-setting process, the Board supported lowering the millage rate for Maintenance & Operations (M&O) by 0.2 mills. The millage rates were tentatively set at 18.90 for 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 Gwinnett County 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 tentative millage rate of 18.90 will generate approximately 2.4% more of the total general operating budget. The administration is recommending the millage rate be lowered further to 18.80 mills, a 0.3 mills reduction to be considered for final adoption by the BOE.

     The FY26 budget provides investments in the areas of compensation, school safety, school-based resources, literacy support, college and career readiness, and special education services. Gwinnett County Public Schools’ enrollment for the next school year is projected to be more than 182,200 students.

     Citizens may address the Gwinnett County BOE 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.