Walton County BOC sets tax rate

County approves same millage rate, does not choose rollback rate

The Walton County Board of Commissioners voted to approve its millage rate at 12.278, leaving the tax rate the same but not opting to select the rollback rate that would have prevented tax bills from rising.

“We proposed leaving the millage rate exactly the same,” Thompson said.

The commissioners approved the millage rate 4-2, with Kirklyn Dixon and Lee Bradford both voting against the rate.

While the millage rate remained unchanged from last year, it will ultimately cost taxpayers more in rising assessments. The rollback rate, if selected, would have prevented this by setting the mill at a level that would only bring in what it did last year.

The board also approved the Walton County Board of Education’s recently set millage rate of 15.367, which was a reduction from last year, as has become a trend for the school system in the last several years.

In other board news, the commissioners set a work session for 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 to hold final discussions on the proposed project repurposing the old Walton County jail on Spring Street for new department expansions.

The board also approved a budget amendment for a project to resurface roads in the Barrington Manor neighborhood at a cost of $69,533.

And the board approved the rezone of land at 5187 Highway 81 at Bay Creek Road to build a convenience store with gas pumps and storage buildings, requiring extra buffers and traffic upgrades.