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Henry County fiscal court amends first-reading tax rate to 10.3% after brief debate; vote 3-2
Summary
At first reading of the county property tax rate, magistrates debated whether to increase by up to 4%. The court amended the proposed rate to a compensating 10.3% and approved the amendment on a 3-2 vote.
Henry County Fiscal Court held a first reading of the county tax rate and approved an amendment to set a compensating rate of 10.3% by a 3-2 recorded voice vote.
The county received the state tax-rate worksheet the previous day and presented options. Officials said the unchanged (compensating) rate would equate to a 10.1% figure; a 4% increase would produce a 10.5% rate and would require additional public meetings and advertising. One magistrate suggested placing the county at the compensating rate rather than advertising a 4% increase.
After discussion and a motion to revise the proposed rate from 10.1 to 10.3 (the amendment), the court voted; the amendment passed 3-2. The court characterized this action as first reading. Officials said additional advertisement and public meeting requirements would apply if the court proposed a tax-rate increase above the compensating rate or a 4% increase.
Why it matters: tax-rate settings determine the county’s property tax revenue and require statutory public-notice steps when the proposed rate exceeds specified thresholds.
Next steps: the tax-rate process proceeds through required notices and a subsequent reading; the court indicated it would advertise as required if the county pursues any increase beyond the compensating rate.
