Living in Catoosa County

Even with the explosive growth of the past few decades, Catoosa County retains the peace, natural beauty and sense of community of our past.
Our temperate weather, excellent schools and low cost of living make us a great place to put down roots for businesses and families alike.

Weather

In the summer, temperatures average below 90 degrees. Our lowest average winter temperatures stay above freezing with the occasional light snowfall. We receive 40 to 50 inches of rain per year.

Primary and Secondary Education

Catoosa County has 10 elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, and one alternative learning high school. We are proud that among these are:

• seven Georgia Schools of Excellence
• three National Schools of Excellence
• two Georgia Dream Schools
• six AYP Distinguished Schools

Our Special Education Department is a recipient of a Certificate of Highest Performance from the Georgia Department of Education for excellence in the education of students with disabilities.

Higher Education

Six colleges and universities are within 13 miles of Catoosa County, including nearby Georgia Northwestern Technical College, a regional leader in technical education and workforce development.

Ground has also been broken for a new Catoosa County campus of Georgia Northwestern at the corner of Cloud Springs and Dietz roads. Bidding for the project begins in November 2010 and construction of the campus will take 12 to 25 months.

Without leaving the county, students can complete their first two years of college online through the University of Georgia's eCore® program.

College opportunities are made more accessible for students through our state's HOPE scholarship program. This lottery-financed program funds college tuition for most of Georgia's freshman in-state students.

Taxes

• Local sales tax: 3%
• State sales tax: 4%
• County Millage rate: 22.14
• City of Fort Oglethorpe Millage rate: 28.60
• City of Ringgold Millage rate: 24.84
• City of Fort Oglethorpe property tax: $11.48*
• City of Ringgold property tax: $9.98*
• County property tax (for properties outside city limits): $8.88*
• State income tax: graduated, from 1%-6%

*Effective tax rate per $1000 of property

Healthcare

Catoosa County is home to Hutcheson Medical Center, one of the largest community hospitals in the state. The Center has been recognized by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals as one of the top community hospitals in Georgia several times. Hutcheson's services and programs include:

• Emergency Services
• Occupational and Community Wellness Program
• Centers for Breast Care; Cancer Care; Imaging; Surgery; and Women
• Home Health
• Hospice

For additional medical services, our residents have quick access to these facilities in neighboring communities:

• complete-care children's hospital
• level-one trauma center
• regional physical rehabilitation hospital