LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

To the Editor:

I have noticed ads published in The South Reporter from the municipalities and county government. Each has said that there will be no increase in taxes for the 2021 tax year, due to them keeping their millage rates the same and not raising them, unless there is an increase in value.

Each were given their assessed values for the upcoming year to determine their budgets. Due to the state-mandated reappraisal that was completed this year, they were advised that assessed valuation has increased substantially since our last reappraisal of 2016.

The reappraisal was scheduled to be completed for 2020, but COVID-19 hit and the tax assessor asked the Department of Revenue to delay this update until the 2022 tax year. This was done to not burden the community with possibly higher taxes during this unforeseen hardship. They granted an extension of one year (2021). We asked this year to extend it again until next year, but this was denied. The assessor’s office had no other choice but to complete this update.

The tax assessor’s office has to operate within the guidelines of the State of Mississippi. We felt that with all the new growth in Marshall County, coupled with the state-mandated reappraisal, that these departments within Marshall County would lower their millage rates to off-set this impact upon the citizens. It seems that this has not happened. I am not responsible for the budgets of the municipalities, county or school districts.

Each one has an opportunity to adjust their tax rates to fit what their budgets would need, but not over-burden the people of Marshall County. It seems their budgets require a larger amount of revenue this year. Thus, for many of the citizens of Marshall County, there will be a tax increase for the 2021 tax year.

Sincerely,

Juanita M. Dillard,

Marshall County Tax Assessor