Kent County finance committee authorizes 2025 summer property tax levy of 4.0605 mills

The Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee recommended authorizing the summer 2025 general operating property tax levy at 4.0605 mills, which will be billed with a tax levy date of July 1, 2025, to support the county's adopted fiscal year 2025 general operating budget.

The recommendation followed remarks from an administrator's office staff member who said a notice of public hearing on the 2025 county budget was published July 28, 2024, and that a public hearing was held Aug. 8, 2024. "The 2025 adopted budget requires the levy of 4.0605 mills to be authorized for the 2025 summer tax billing, which has a tax levy date of 07/01/2025," the staff member said during the meeting.

The levy is intended to generate funds used for the general operating purposes already included in the county's 2025 adopted budget. Commissioner Seck moved the recommendation and Commissioner Halstead supported it. With no questions raised, the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Why it matters: authorizing the levy permits the county treasurer to include the millage on the summer tax bills and ensures funding for programs and services covered in the county's adopted FY2025 operating plan. The authorization follows state-required public-notice and hearing steps noted by staff.

Details and procedure: county staff told commissioners the notice and public hearing required by state law were completed in 2024 and that the board adopted the FY2025 appropriation on Aug. 22, 2024. The action taken by the committee forwards the levy authorization to the full Board of Commissioners for final action (as noted in the meeting materials).