CAIRO — The Grady County Board of Commissioners voted to drop the millage rate slightly for 2021 property taxes at its meeting Tuesday night.

The millage rate will be 17.384, down from 17.390. That will equate to a $2 drop in the tax bill for a person with a $200,000 home.

The drop in the millage rate will mean the county will take in approximately $3,500 less.

The tentative budget for 2022 calls for $16.45 million in taxes and other revenue. Total expenditures are projected to be $18,1 million. The county will use more than $1.65 million from reserves to cover the expected shortfall.

The budget calls for a 2% performance/merit based raise for county employees, who will also see a 25-cent cost of living raise.

Tax bills are scheduled to go out to county residents on October 15. The 2022 budget will be finalized later this year

• The board approved a change in the holiday schedule for county employees. Instead of getting December 31 as a holiday, employees will now receive December 23. December 24 had previously been scheduled as a holiday.

• The board approved spending $500 toward a Grady County student scholarship at Thomas University. TU will hold its Casino Night fundraiser at the Grady County Cultural Center on Oct. 16.

• The board approved spending $13,593.56 to repair a bulldozer for the Roads Department.

• The next Tired Creek Lake Authority meeting will be on September 13 since September 6 is a holiday.

Kevin Price can be reached at 229-226-2400, ext. 1820