The Decatur County Board of Commissioners is proposing a millage rate increase of 1.5 mills for the county’s 2013-14 fiscal year budget, while the city of Bainbridge and Decatur County Board of Education plan to keep their millage rates the same.

A mill is roughly equivalent to $1 of tax for every $1,000 of appraised property value.

The county’s proposed budget can be viewed at any time at the administration building, 203 W. Broughton St., in downtown Bainbridge.

There are two public hearings scheduled to discuss the proposed budget. They are Tuesday, July 23, at 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m. A special called meeting will follow the 1 p.m. public hearing, to adopt the 2013-14 budget.

The next regularly scheduled commissioners’ meeting will be Tuesday, July 30, at 7 p.m. The board will have a special called meeting at 6 p.m., to adopt the proposed millage rate.

The city of Bainbridge and Decatur County Board of Education are not changing their millage rates, although they are still required by law to have hearings for public discussion.

Because of an increase in the tax digest, these entities will be collecting more property tax in 2013-14, even though the millage rate is the same. State law requires that governmental bodies must still advertise any increase in their property tax collections for the coming year, even if the millage rate does not change.

The Board of Education projects that it will collect 0.31 percent more property tax in the 2013-14 year, while the city of Bainbridge projects it will collect 0.48 percent more. Only property owners who saw their appraised property value increase will see a change in their tax bills from the city and school board.

The planned hearings for the city of Bainbridge and Decatur County Board of Education are as follows:

• City of Bainbridge — Tuesday, July 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the city council chambers at 101 S. Broad St. (the newly renovated city hall).

• Decatur County Board of Education — Monday, July 22, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., at the Board of Education board room, 507 Martin. St.; and Tuesday, July 30, at 6 p.m., at the same location.