Board acknowledges most tax levies but holds Topak and Mohave Valley elementary rates for review

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday acknowledged tax levies and rates submitted by the county and local taxing jurisdictions but set aside the levies from Topak Elementary School District and Mohave Valley Elementary School District for separate review after public comment and questions from supervisors about whether those districts properly conducted required notices and hearings.

Clerk staff and the county attorney explained that most taxing jurisdictions followed the statutorily required notice and truth‑in‑taxation processes and that the board’s role is to forward levies and allow the county treasurer to collect the taxes. Attorney Davis told the board the supervisors do not set independent taxing bodies’ rates; those districts are governed by their own elected boards and state law. He said the county does have a limited role to ensure statutory procedures were followed and that if legally required steps were missed, corrective action could follow.

Topak and Mohave Valley school districts drew multiple speakers from small, mostly retirement communities who described sharp rate increases and said they were given little advance notice. Topak residents said the district’s submitted primary tax rate jumped materially in one filing and that the public hearing process had been confusing. Supervisor Ron Gould moved that the board treat the Topak and Mohave Valley school districts separately and revisit their levies at the board’s next regular meeting; the motion carried.

The board approved the remainder of the levies — including city, fire, improvement and other school districts — with the county treasurer directed to collect those taxes. The county clerk noted the board has until the third Monday in August to adopt county rates and act on outstanding levies if the supervisors choose to take further action.