Marion County's budget keeps tax rate unchanged

photo Judy Brewer
Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog

JASPER, Tenn. - After several public discussions about lowering Marion County's property tax rate, county leaders have chosen to keep it at its current level.

The Marion County Commission voted 12-3 to approve the budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year and 10-5 to keep the property tax rate at $2.1686 per $100 of assessed value.

Marion's tax rate has been in contention since 2011, when the board raised it 50 cents to overcome a $1.5 million budget shortfall and avoid a county government shutdown.

The tax rate has remained at that level ever since.

Commissioner Tommy Thompson voted against both proposals on Monday and said people in the county are "expecting us to lower this tax rate."

"We've got all kinds of arguments, and you can look at the pros and cons, but we need to lower that tax rate," he said.

Thompson suggested dropping the rate by almost 17 cents to $2 per $100.

"That's what I'd like to see this body do," he said to his fellow commissioners. "You can do that."

The board took no action on Thompson's proposal.

Officials said there is concern that county property values will drop in the next two years and that could cause another budget shortfall.

Property Assessor Judy Brewer said the state is set to reappraise property values in Marion in 2016. During that reappraisal year, the state will automatically set the county's property tax rate.

She said there is no indication from the state whether those values will rise, fall or remain stable.

"If it stays like it is now, the values are going to drop," Brewer said. The housing market has shown limited growth in the past year, she said.

"We've heard the numbers and had the discussions," Commission Chairman Gene Hargis said. "I don't think there's anybody on the board that doesn't want to see [the property tax rate] drop. The only question is this reappraisal and by what extent you drop it. Is it all at once or over a period of years?"

He said lowering the county's property taxes is something "we're all wanting."

Thompson said he has heard the same "doom and gloom" economic predictions for 30 years.

"The economy has been up and down," he said. "We have flexibility on this tax rate. We've got a pretty hefty fund balance, and if we'd just hang on to it, it would carry us through a year if we fell short."

Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.

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