Camden County Holds Second Public Hearing on Tentative 2026 Millage Rates

Camden County commissioners held a second public hearing Thursday evening on the county's tentative 2026 millage rates, continuing the state-required process before a final rate can be set.

Finance Director Tiffanie Cheng told the board the countywide rate under review remains 13.139 mills and the unincorporated district rate remains 1.123 mills — the same unincorporated rate as 2025 — after the board selected those tentative figures Sept. 15. According to the county's tentative tax millage notice, the countywide figure is 1.876 mills, or 16.66%, above the rollback rate of 11.263 mills, and the unincorporated rate is 0.014 mills, or 1.26%, above its rollback rate of 1.109 mills.

Cheng said the countywide rate is projected to produce about $32 million in revenue and leave an estimated general-fund balance of about $13.3 million at the end of fiscal year 2027. She placed the hearing in the context of a roughly $50.8 million general fund and about $3 million in the unincorporated fund for fire rescue, parks and right-of-way mowing.

She said a third public hearing is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 6 and a final public hearing for 6 p.m. Oct. 13, with millage adoption planned for the Oct. 13 Special Called meeting. Commissioner Cody Smith was absent; Chairman Robbie Cheek said Smith was attending a Georgia Tech presentation.