Columbia County governments will conduct public meetings today and Tuesday to set millage.

The Grovetown City Council already has held two public hearings and will hold a final meeting to set the rate at 5:30 p.m. today.

Harlem's City Council also has held two meetings and the final one takes place at 6:45 p.m. today.

Columbia County Commission and school board meetings each intend to hold just one meeting on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. and 8 a.m., respectively. Even though neither entity intends to roll back the millage, the tax digest did not grow enough to warrant three hearings, officials said.

State law requires that local governments hold three public hearings if they do not intend to reduce millage to compensate for added revenues because of growth in the tax digest.

Though the county's tax digest grew by 1.25 percent, there was a nearly $105 million drop in property values, negating the added revenues because of growth, county Finance Director Leanne DeLoach said.

The same is true for the school board, which intends to leave its 17.09 mill rate unchanged, school system Controller Pat Sullivan said.

Harlem experienced enough growth to hold three meetings, but likely will vote today to leave the rate at 5.35 mills.

Grovetown is the only Columbia County government that intends to raise taxes.

The city's tax digest grew by $9 million last year to $197 million, City Manager Shirley Beasley said.

Still, city officials are proposing to raise the millage from 5.64 to 7 mills.

Ms. Beasley said the city's operations and maintenance costs increased. Added tax revenues will be used to improve such city services as public safety, trash pickup and more.

The tax increase also will help the city recover money lost because of a drop in sales tax revenues, Ms. Beasley said.

Property tax bills will be sent to area homeowners on Nov. 6. The deadline to pay is Jan. 15.

Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.