Jackson will not raise property taxes this year to fund $153M budget

Amid the ongoing water crisis and challenges picking up trash, the city of Jackson did not raise property taxes as originally proposed.

Jackson officials have announced that the municipal ad valorem tax levy charged on real and personal property within the city limits is expected to remain unchanged during the 2022-23 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

This is in contrast to a proposed budget released by the administration on Aug. 8 that called for a 2 mill increase.

One mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 of a property's assessed value.

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"The council is recommending that we not change the ad valorem tax millage rates,” said Council President Ashby Foote of Ward 1 during a public hearing at a specially called meeting Thursday evening. The current millage rate is 63.03 and is expected to remain unchanged.

The most recent increase came in 2021 when the city increased the rate by 3 mills from 63.03 to 66.03 mills.

Of the roughly $75 million in expected tax collections by the city, roughly $50 million will go to the general fund with the remaining balance split between the Bond and Interest Fund, the Disability and Relief Fund, the Parks Fund and Library Services.

Final adoption of the budget is expected during a special meeting scheduled for Sept. 8.

Although no one rose to speak specifically about the proposed tax levy at Thursday’s public hearing, several teachers and parents representing the Jones and Westside Early Childhood Development Centers spoke in favor of continued funding for the centers.

Vernon White, a teacher at Jones, said, "Not only do we teach the ‘three R’s,’ we also work with the children on behavior and social development. All of this is very important."

Other teachers and parents supported White’s comments, saying the centers provide a solid foundation for children prior to their entering the public schools.

Ward 2 councilwoman Angelique Lee agreed.

“I am thankful you came before us today. You are in front of two educators whose families come from a line of educators. We understand the importance of what you are doing and will do everything we can to try to save it,” she said.

Following the comments, the council passed two resolutions to adopt the requested tax levy for the Jackson Public Schools and the Jackson/Hinds Library system, both of which are collected through the city.

JPS, with an annual budget of more than $300 million and some 4,000 employees is the fourth largest employer in the Jackson metro area. About one third of its annual budget is financed through ad valorem taxes paid on homes, automobile tags, business fixtures and equipment, and rental real property. The current levy for the school district is 86.86 mills.

Although municipal ad valorem taxes are expected to remain flat in the coming year, increases could still be coming in the levy collected by Hinds County.

County supervisors have scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, September 13 at 9 a.m. in the Chancery Court Building, 316 S. President St., for anyone wishing to comment on proposed tax increases, the proposed county budget, or proposed tax levies for FY 2022-23.

Approximately 46% of the county’s $153 million budget is expected to be financed through ad valorem taxes.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson, MS, will not raise ad valorem taxes this year