Liberty County school board members appear ready to cut their millage for the second straight year.

With the county tax digest now in hand, school system chief financial officer Stephanie Clark has proposed a millage rate cut to 14.114, down from the current 14.441.

“This will still allow us to collect the taxes we projected to collect in our FY26 approved budget,” she told board members.

The school system cut the millage to 14.441 from 15.25 in 2023.

Because the school system is not bringing in more property tax revenue on the higher digest value, even with the millage rate cut, it will not have to have the mandated three public hearings.

The fiscal year 2026 general fund budget calls for $154.5 million in expenditures and revenues. Local sources, such as property taxes, will make up $32.6 million of the revenue.

More than $100.8 million of the school system’s funding comes from the state, and the schools expect to use about $3.1 million in reserves to make up the difference in revenues and expenditures.

“Nevertheless, we’re rolling back,” said board Chair Verdell Jones.

The school system’s FY25 budget was $144.9 million, and local sources provided about $31.1 million in revenue. The state provided the largest portion, about $96 million, and the system did not have to use fund balance or reserves to meet the expenditures. Board member Carol Guyett said redoing the pay structure for classified personnel was a large part of why the school system is using its fund balance for this fiscal year.