Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Troup County School System is not proposing an increase to the current millage rate of 18.85.

The Troup County School Board held two of its three required public hearing to discuss the millage rate on Thursday. Both were virtual and streamed on the LaGrange Television Facebook page. The third meeting will take place Thursday at 5 p.m., right before the regularly scheduled school board meeting.

“The rate being proposed is the same rate that has been in place since 2005,” Shumate said. “For 15 years, the rate has been the same. What’s changing, and it’s always changing, are property values, so people are getting property value increases and it makes property taxes go up.”

Shumate said the increase in property values falls in line with increased expenses that the school system is facing.

“The two go hand in hand, and we do rely heavily on property taxes, especially considering the state funding is being reduced by $7.5 million,” Shumate said.

The Troup County School Board will meet Monday for its work session, which includes discussions on both graduation plans and back to school plans.