Bainbridge sets 2026 millage rate

The Bainbridge City Council voted Monday to set its millage rate for the 2026 tax year at 2.178 mills, which is a 53% decrease from last year’s rate of 4.722 mills.

Sales tax proceeds collected from January to June will benefit city and county taxpayers this year, City Manager Roy Oliver said. Voters approved FLOST — a 1% “penny” sales tax to reduce the millage rates for Bainbridge, Climax and Decatur County — last November.

“The management of the millage rate over the years has placed the city in a great situation for city taxpayers,” Oliver said.

Bainbridge is expected to levy $1,081,148 in property taxes — about half of the $2.2 million it levied in 2025. The city’s overall tax levy decreased by $1,174,858.

Other taxing bodies, including Decatur County and Decatur County Schools, will levy their own taxes to provide a variety of services to the community.

Oliver said that most of Bainbridge taxpayers’ dollars go to the school system (52.2%), followed by the county (27.4%), several local authorities (17.1%) and Bainbridge itself (3.3%).

In other words, the City of Bainbridge receives $3.30 of every $100 on a taxpayer’s total bill.

The mayor and councilmembers are scheduled to meet again for a special session on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the city’s fiscal year 2027 operating budget. The mayor and council are scheduled to adopt the finalized budget during their regular meeting on Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Both meetings are open to the public. Starting Sept. 4, the public may also review a copy of the proposed budget at City Hall or the library between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or online at www.bainbridgecity.com.

Councilwoman Glennie Bench was absent from Monday’s meeting.