Walton action group to deliver petition signatures protesting millage rate increase Tuesday to Walton County officials

Walton in Action group is urging that the 19.55 % millage rate increase be rescinded

WALTON COUNTY, GA (Aug. 25, 2025) – Thousands of signatures have been obtained by the Walton in Action group urging County officials to rescind the 19.55 % millage rate increase voted on by Chairman David Thompson and three of the six commissions earlier in the month.

Local citizens plan to hand-deliver “hundreds of petition sheets with thousands of original signatures to their county courthouse at an event putting First Amendment freedoms into action,” Walton in Action wrote in a press release.

“On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 9:00 am, local residents participating in the all- volunteer group Walton in Action will stand on the front steps of the historic county courthouse, respectfully urging Commissioners to roll back a recent property tax millage rate increase of 19.55%.”

The release urges home school parents to bring their students to witness all of the five rights secured by the First Amendment as they exercise:

• Freedom of religion (with an opening prayer),
• Freedom of speech (making statements of reasons for signing),
• Freedom of assembly (standing together)
• Freedom of the press (sharing on social media), and
• Freedom to petition the government for redress of grievances.

The plan is to again address county officials in a continuation of the grassroots fight against the rate increase. It comes on the heals of the rally on the courthouse steps last week that grabbed media attention and drew, by the Walton in Action;s account, about 200 people. It will again take place at the Historic Courthouse in Monroe at 100 Court Street.

Walton in Action organization tout an impressive response from citizens after being organized in less than a week by local volunteers with no funding, The group has managed to secure thousands of pen-and-paper signatures to the following statement:

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Walton County, Georgia, voted on August 5, 2025, to increase the residential property millage rate by 19.55%; and WHEREAS, Walton County taxpayers are demanding relief, not higher burdens;NOW THEREFORE, we, the undersigned citizens of Walton County, call on the Commissioners to convene a special meeting and vote to rescind the 19.55%rate increase before September 1, 2025.

Officials have responded, saying that there are some misconceptions and misinformation regarding the issues. Walton County public information officer Ben Hammond attended the rally Thursday to speak to protestors.

“It’s more complicated than just a 20% increase,” Hammond said. “We’re trying to educate people on that. The average actual increase on people’s tax bills will be about $20 a year.”