The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education holds its first regular meeting in its new board room at the Beacon Municipal Center. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

The Decatur School Board will hold two millage rate hearings in the next few weeks.

The board unanimously voted to lower the millage rate from 20.9 mills to 20.5. However, as an announcement from City Schools of Decatur notes, due to higher property tax assessments, there will be an overall 4.27 percent increase in property taxes. The tax digest is expected to increase by more than 12 percent this year.

The CSD announcement says there will be public hearings on the millage rate on June 19 at 9 am and 6 pm, and July 8 at 6 pm. The BOE will set the final millage rate at its July 8 meeting, which starts at 6:30 pm. All meetings are open to the public and are held at the CSD central offices, located at 125 Electric Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030.

Due to the property tax assessments, the city of Decatur will also have to hold millage rate hearings. The city’s next hearing will be June 16 at 7:30 pm.