The Gordon County Board of Commissioners adopted a 2010 millage rate of 8.919 net mills during a special meeting on Friday.

This rate is a slight increase from the 8.81 mills levied last year.

The board accepted the rollback millage rate due to a four percent decrease in the county’s tax digest, according to Alvin Long, board chairman.

The 2010 rate, though one-tenth of a percent higher than the 2009 rate, is considered a rollback due to the decrease in the tax digest, he explained.

The digest reduction is due to a decrease in property value assessments around the county, said Randy Dowling, county administrator.

This newly adopted millage rate will mean little to no change in citizen’s tax bills, according to Commissioner Judy Bailey.

Although the taxes for the majority of citizens will be equivalent to taxes paid last year, the county will be receiving $617,000 less in revenue, Dowling said.

According to Dowling, the county’s tax digest, which is the combination of all private and commercial property value assessments throughout the county, was down because of the lack of property improvements.

“There is no (building) activity going on in Gordon County,” he said of the decrease in property value assessments.

According to Dowling, the county is expecting $14 million in revenue from the county’s property taxes.

“This is the largest source of revenue for the county,” said Dowling.

“The board doesn’t want to increase taxes in this economy, and the county budget can sustain a $617,000 hit,” he said.

According to Dowling, each citizen’s tax bill will vary based on whether or not their property tax assessments increased or decreased in 2009.

Residents should expect their 2010 tax bills in mid-December, according to the board.

Next year, the county might not fare as well, according to Bailey.

The county’s millage rate is essentially a year behind, she explained, calculating the 2010 millage rate on 2009 assessments. Therefore, all of the ocunty’s foreclosures and decreased values will impact the millage rate next year.

“That’s going to hurt,” said Dowling about the impact foreclosures will have on the county millage rate in 2011.

For more detailed explanation of the county millage rate, visit www.gordoncounty.org.