Chickasaw County sets March 24 hearing on proposed 2025–26 property tax levy; approves budget amendment for FY24–25

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors approved a departmental appropriations amendment for fiscal year 2024–25 and set a public hearing for its maximum proposed property tax levy for fiscal year 2025–26 for 9 a.m. March 24 in the supervisors’ courtroom.

The amendment, described as "budget amendment number 2," was approved as resolution 03-03-25-O8 after board members removed one previously proposed line item. The board also approved a separate interfund operating transfer resolution, 03-03-25-O9, to return previously advanced funds between county accounts.

Sheila Sheppleton (Staff member) read the required forms for the tax-levy notice and told the board that the paperwork shows "total property tax asking increased by $252,288," an increase the packet described as about a 3.19% rise in the county’s tax request. The board directed staff to publish notice of the March 24 hearing with newspaper publication dates set for March 13–14.

Board members discussed the administrative steps the county must follow to publish the hearing notice and the timing of mailings to taxpayers. Supervisors asked staff to try to ensure mailings reach residents early enough to avoid complaints about slow delivery. The form presented on the screen included countywide levy components and example taxpayer impacts for the state-prescribed worksheet.

The board held a public hearing earlier in the meeting on budget amendment No. 2; no written public comments were reported. After the hearing closed, supervisors returned to regular session and voted to adopt the amended department appropriations resolution (03-03-25-O8) and the interfund transfer (03-03-25-O9).

Discussion: Supervisors and staff spent substantial time discussing options to close projected gaps in next year’s budget, including shared staffing arrangements, possible service reductions, and use of capital and other restricted funds. Several board members emphasized the need to give departmental governing boards and elected officials clear guidance on funding levels so those entities can finalize budgets; staff said they would provide revised numbers for further consideration.

No final decisions were made at the meeting about staffing reductions or the disposition of county-owned buildings; supervisors asked staff to return with drafted options and instructed the chairperson and county attorney to prepare language directing department heads and independent boards on their budget targets.

The board’s action to set the public hearing is procedural and does not bind the board to a final levy amount; the hearing will allow residents to comment before the board finalizes levies later in the budget process.