DeKalb County Commission passed the new budget Monday night, which means a 29-cent tax increase for property owners. County taxpayers will now pay $2.1235 per $100 of assessed value beginning this fall, up from the current rate of $1.83.

This was the third try to pass the proposed budget with the last vote earlier this month coming within three votes of passage with three members absent. All 14 commissioners attended Monday night’s meeting.

The measure passed with a vote of 8-6. Those voting “no” were commissioners Dennis Slager, Julie Young, Bobby Johnson, Jerry Adcock, Bruce Malone and Myron Rhody.

The tax increase will not go toward funding a new school building. Although the Board of Education has settled on a new Pre-K to second-grade school model, it has yet to send a request for funding to the county commission. Sources said the county may have to revisit property taxes or seek a wheel tax to help support a school building program.

The increased tax rate will be divided among the funds as follows:

·         County General: $1.21.35 cents, up by 25 cents from the current rate of 0.9635 cents.

·         Highway/Public Works: 0.04 cents, up by 1 cent from the current rate of 0.03 cents.

·         General Capital Projects: 0.9 cents, down by 1 cent from the current rate of 0.10 cents.

·         Debt Service: 0.13 cents.

·         General Purpose Schools: 0.65 cents, up by 4 cents from the current rate of 0.61 cents.