Property owners can breathe a sigh of relief.

Both the Forsyth County commission and the board of education voted Thursday night in separate meetings not to change their respective millage rates from the 2012 ones.

Both made the decision despite a 3.8 percent decrease in the tax digest from last year.

“It is exactly the same as last year in both bonds and maintenance and operations, despite a reduction in the local digest value,” said Buster Evans, school superintendent.

The school board’s $270.5 million budget is being supplemented from its fund balance, or reserves, because the school system is receiving about $4.9 million less than last year’s property tax revenue.

The school system’s rates will continue to be 16.3 mills for maintenance and operations and 2.418 for bonds.

Forsyth County’s total millage rate is remaining the same as it has for the past two years at 7.656 mills, which is divided into 4.812 for maintenance and operation, 1.975 for fire and .869 for bond.

The county is seeing a 2.21 percent decrease in the amount it collects from property taxes, said Mary Kirkpatrick, chief tax appraiser. That translates to more than $876,500, she said.

Despite the decreases, Forsyth County Board of Education member Ann Crow said the system’s is “the lowest millage rate in the metro area.”

The board of education approved its 2012-13 budget earlier this summer. The county’s budget, which follows the calendar year, should be approved before the end of the year.