The Decatur County Board of Commissioners approved the 2016 millage rate for the county as the same amount approved last year at its meeting Tuesday.

However, the Hospital Authority was decreased from 2 mills to 1.58 mills, creating a small change in the final millage per district.

The unincorporated areas of Decatur County are set at 15.43 mills, the City of Attapulgus at 14.85 mills, the City of Bainbridge at 13.94 mills, the Town of Brinson at 14.85 mills and the City of Climax at 14.85 mills.

“It was a good decision to keep it where it was,” said Dennis Brinson, county commission chairman. “We are not where we want to be as far as our finances to bring that millage rate down. But every day, the county administrator, the staff and all the departments are working hard trying to get the cost of operations down so we can get that millage rate down.”

The Fire Services Special District was approved a 0.91 mills on all taxable property except for that located within the City of Bainbridge. The Industrial Development Authority was allocated 0.25 mills, the Bainbridge-Decatur County Recreation Authority was approved at 1.5 mills and the Hospital Authority was given 1.58 mills.

Brinson agreed that the next year in Decatur County was an important one, and bringing in new business would be a major goal.

“We have to really attract industry to this area, because that is what is really going to help offset the taxes,” Brinson said.