CARROLLTON, GA —The Carrollton City Schools Board of Education has announced its intention to lower the millage rate to 17.214 mills for the 2026 fiscal year, down from 17.866. This marks the second consecutive year the system has proposed a full rollback to help offset the impact of rising property values on taxpayers. 

According to Georgia law, when the total digest of taxable property is prepared, a rollback rate is calculated. While school districts can set a higher rate to meet operational needs, adopting the rollback rate ensures that property owners will not see a school tax increase due to higher assessments. 

"We are proud to lower our millage rate again this year, fully rolling back to prevent an increased tax burden on property owners," said Dr. Mark Albertus, superintendent of Carrollton City Schools. "It is always the goal of our school system to be good stewards of public funds while delivering safe, high-quality learning environments that our families expect."

The millage rate is the district’s primary source of operational funding, supporting teacher and staff salaries, safety resources, classroom materials, transportation and other essential services. 

School leadership has engaged in careful budgeting and financial planning to ensure the rollback does not compromise the quality of education. The district hopes that easing the tax burden on residents will stimulate local economic growth, leading to a more prosperous community that supports future generations of students and teachers.

Albertus also noted the continued support of ESPLOST, a one-cent sales tax on consumer goods designated for capital projects, as a key part of the district’s financial stability. 

“ESPLOST allows us to invest in updated facilities and technology, without adding to the financial burden on property owners,” he said. “This option spreads the cost among people who shop in the county, including visitors who contribute an estimated 30-40% of the revenue.”

The school system is experiencing consistent enrollment growth each year, prompting a new classroom addition at Carrollton Middle School to accommodate the rising number of middle-grade students.

“We are committed to regularly reviewing the millage rate to balance taxpayer relief with the needs of a growing school system,” said David Godwin, chairman of the Carrollton City Schools Board of Education. “Our goal is to build a sustainable financial future while maintaining the educational standards our community takes pride in.”

The board will vote and is expected to formally adopt the proposed rollback rate at its next meeting on July 8. 

CARROLLTON, GA — Carrollton High School computer science students raise the bar once again by creating an app to help users navigate the Carrollton GreenBelt. In January, students in the program began a semester-long project focused on providing community solutions.

The planning, development, and publication of this app allowed students to learn more about local resources and consider how their work can positively impact others.

Reese Boss, a class of 2025 graduate, served as the lead developer and led the project before passing the reins to rising junior Juliet Browning to incorporate the finishing touches in time for summer break. Both Reese and Juliet have been involved with the computer science program throughout their time at CHS.

Robby Blakemore, CHS computer science teacher, challenges his classes to identify real-world situations that can benefit from technological solutions. The Carrollton GreenBelt is a shared-use path designed for pedestrians, bikers and other non-motorized users that extends more than 18 miles and connects neighborhoods to commercial and community hubs all over town. The GreenBelt app provides an interactive map of the trailheads around town, offering additional information linked to the website. Having the information centrally located enables users to quickly identify amenities such as restrooms, parking access, picnic tables, lake access, and more. 

The interactive Carrollton GreenBelt application is available for free on the App Store. To download the app, visit https://apps.apple.com/us/app/carrolltongreenbelt/id6745795773. 

Reese Boss ‘25 demonstrating the Carrollton GreenBelt application he created with development assistance from CHS rising junior Juliet Browning.