HB1532: HB1532 Dalton Independent School System; remove the increased millage rate limitation

In 2011 the Georgia General Assembly passed a local Act continuing the Dalton Independent School System and setting rules for how high its property tax millage rate could go, including a provision allowing an increased limitation above the normal cap. This bill amends that 2011 Act by removing the increased millage rate limitation and replacing it with a flat cap of 9.5 mills on the rate the school system can charge. The change would not take effect automatically. The bill requires the City of Dalton's municipal election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, letting Dalton voters approve or reject the new lower cap. If a majority votes yes, the new 9.5 mill limit becomes effective January 1, 2027. If voters reject it or the election is not held as required, the change never takes effect and the whole bill is automatically repealed 365 days after the election date. The bill also allows any Dalton voter to sue to force the election if the election superintendent fails to hold it.

• Removes the existing increased millage rate limitation that applied to the Dalton Independent School System under the 2011 Act.
• Replaces that limitation with a flat cap of 9.5 mills on the property tax rate the school system can charge.
• Requires a public referendum in the City of Dalton in November 2026 before the new millage cap can take effect.
• Sets the new cap to take effect January 1, 2027 only if voters approve it, and automatically repeals the entire bill if voters reject it or the election is not held.
• Lets any Dalton voter seek a court order (writ of mandamus) forcing the election superintendent to hold the required election if it is not called.

Property owners within the Dalton Independent School System's tax district, the school system itself, the City of Dalton's election superintendent, and registered voters in the City of Dalton who would decide the outcome through the November 2026 referendum.

If approved, property tax bills tied to the Dalton school system's millage rate would be capped at 9.5 mills instead of the higher limitation currently allowed, directly affecting how much local property owners pay to fund Dalton schools starting in 2027.

• Section 1 revises subsection (b) of Section 9 of the 2011 Dalton school Act, removing the increased millage limitation and setting a 9.5 mill cap.
• Section 2 requires the City of Dalton's election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026 on approving the new cap.
• Section 2 sets the new cap's effective date as January 1, 2027 if voters approve it, and provides for automatic repeal of the Act 365 days after the election if voters reject it or the election is not held.
• Section 2 makes the election requirement mandatory and allows any Dalton elector to seek a writ of mandamus if the superintendent fails to call the election.
• Section 3 sets the general effective date of the Act as approval by the Governor, except for the referendum-dependent provisions in Section 2.

1. 2026-03-23Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2026-03-20House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2026-03-12House Second Readers (House)
6. 2026-03-10House First Readers (House)
7. 2026-03-09House Hopper (House)

• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)Primary sponsor
• Steve Tarvin (R, HD-002)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 20, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (14 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #734

• property taxes
• millage rate
• Dalton schools
• local referendum
• school funding