New Interim Lee County Tax Collector sworn into office
Sep. 6—TUPELO — Tuesday marked the first day on the job for former Deputy Clerk Crystal Heatherly as the interim Lee County tax collector.
Heatherly swore the oath of office as the interim Tax Collector following the retirement and final day of former Tax Collector Leroy Belk. Belk, 66, began his career as the county tax collector in 1996 and would have been up for re-election in November 2023.
Heatherly, who has over 11 years of experience in the collector's office, will serve as tax collector until after the election.
Due to the timing of Belk's retirement, County Administrator Bill Benson previously told the Daily Journal the county wouldn't need to hold a special election to fill the office. The qualifying deadline for this and other state and county elected offices is Feb. 1.
Belk, who announced his retirement during the Aug. 15 board meeting, previously told the Daily Journal he planned to take a break before starting work in consulting.
