The Polk County Board of Commissioners was to set a new millage rate at noon today.

The date to set the rate was changed from Tuesday, Aug. 3. This allowed for advertising the 2010 tax digest and 5 year history of levy.

Manager Clinton Lester said no public hearings were required since no tax increase was anticipated.

The rate will be the same as that adopted in August 2009 when it was set at 13.688 with a rollback of 2.838 for sales tax to give a net levy of 10.85. Commissioners, at that time, also adopted the Polk School District millage rate at 15.280 as approved by the school board.

The new millage rate will bring in less tax dollars due to the drop in the digest. However, county officials believe it will be enough since this was included in the current $18.1 million 2011 budget.

Lester has described the budget as lean without jeopardizing county services and pointed out that it is the lowest since 2005.

Lester said a copy of the digest, down about $11 million from 2009, has been received. This was slightly more than 2008.

He said, during the August meeting, the impact of the tax digest on Polk’s budget is about a couple of hundred thousand dollars. The biggest hit has been loss of revenue from sales tax.

Commissioners changed the regular work session and meeting dates to Monday, Sept. 13 and Tuesday, Sept. 24 instead of Sept. 6 and 7. They will meet on Oct. 7 and Nov. 1 instead of regular meeting dates.

Matt Denton, assistant county manager, said the road paving should be completed this summer and plans are to work on some dirt roads, including Treat Mountain. He said a list is being compiled of roads that have the greatest need for new culverts.

Roads that have been resurfaced since June 1 include Old Potash, Striker, Quarry, Galilee, Old Cartersville, Long Station, Sheep Leg, Portland, Forsyth Lake, Little Harmony and Mountain Home Loop, Benedict Loop, Horseshoe Circle, Liggons Circle, Corrie Lane, Portland Circle and Main Line Street. Repairs have been completed on Old Collard Valley Road, June Kemp and Hugh Hardison Drive.

Board members are also reviewing a proposal to repair the existing air conditioning system and add a 10-ton unit at Courthouse Number 1. The Public Works Committee will review bids and make a recommendation during the September meeting.

Exterior wood surfaces will be repaired, replaced or repainted at Courthouse No. 2. County crews will complete some of the work but others, due to height, will be outsourced. A recommendation will be presented once bids are received.