Madison County board approves ordinance to fix 2025 tax rates after public hearing

The Madison County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the proposed calendar‑year 2025 tax rates, received staff presentations and public comment, and approved Ordinance 2025‑3 to fix the county tax rates for the year beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

Finance staff and the county’s commissioner discussed two central points: the county’s equalization following a general reassessment and an advertised possible increase tied to the equalization. Staff said the board previously equalized the real‑estate tax rate to 49 cents per $100 of assessed value following reassessment; the advertised maximum allowed up to a 3‑cent increase (52 cents per $100) while staff’s later work‑session recommendation reflected a lower change under consideration.

During the hearing the county finance presenter also described a statutorily required disclosure of exempt property values (federal, state, charitable, education, religious and other categories) and noted the county’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) receipts for federal land that partially offset exempt acreage. Commissioners and staff reviewed comparisons with neighboring counties to provide context for the board’s decision.

Board members and members of the public spoke about budget pressures, volunteer fire protections, school funding and the difficulty of raising new revenue. Staff noted that personal property tax rates (reported at $3.40 per $100) were not proposed to change this year.

After discussion a supervisor moved to adopt Ordinance 2025‑3 to fix the tax rates for tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2025; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Staff said the advertised materials had included the maximum (up to a 3‑cent increase), that board deliberations had narrowed options, and that further budget public hearings would follow as part of the May process for debt‑service decisions and other budget actions.