Madison County supervisors direct staff to advertise maximum 52¢ tax rate for public hearing, approve tax-deadline extension

The Madison County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday directed staff to advertise a maximum real-property tax rate of $0.52 per $100 of assessed value for upcoming hearings and approved a resolution extending the calendar‑year tax due date to June 20, 2025.

County finance staff, led by Jennifer Warren, told the board that to balance the operating budget under current assumptions the county would need roughly a three-cent increase in the real-estate tax rate. "We'd have to raise 3¢ pretty much to balance the budget," Warren said while reviewing revenue and spending scenarios. After discussion the board agreed to advertise a maximum rate of $0.52 (the equalized rate is 49¢) and to allow public hearings where supervisors can adopt a lower figure.

Warren walked supervisors through a package of department and outside-agency reductions that reduced the preliminary requests and narrowed the…