While the property tax rate to fund education is expected to go up, the county’s rate is going down.

Walker Commissioner Bebe Heiskell, during her weekly meeting Wednesday, July 25, approved a reduced millage rate for property taxes the county collects.

Heiskell approved a drop from 2.44 to 2.30 mills for unincorporated areas, and from 4.25 to 4.04 mills for incorporated. The reduction means an overall cut of 5.67 percent, according to the commissioner.

Though growth attributed to annexation would have increased county revenue $159,830, Heiskell said she is working to lower taxes to accommodate county residents.

“I’ll be biting the bullet,” said Heiskell, believing she can work within the limits she has set.

The reduction came one day after Walker County Schools approved an 11 percent millage rate hike for education, from 14.91 to 16.55 mills, for its proposed fiscal 2001-02 budget.

In other business Wednesday:

- Heiskell announced the county is accepting bids for a second set of truck scales for the Walker County Landfill on Marbletop Road. Terry Toole, Walker County’s landfill consultant, explained two scales would eliminate lines and allow easier traffic flow.

- Heiskell signed contracts with Triple Point and Canyon Springs for engineering and geology work on the landfill