Harrison County supervisors correct homestead-exemption error for Lucius Street homeowner

Harrison County supervisors voted to correct a homestead-exemption processing error affecting the property at 1561 Lucius Street after the property owner said the Department of Revenue charged back his exemption when a Social Security number was recorded incorrectly.

The action came after resident Ralph Charles Lechner told the board he had attempted to file for a homestead exemption and later received a large tax bill when the credit was removed. A representative of the tax assessor’s office said Lechner submitted a pre-application in 2022 for the 2023 tax year and that an incorrect Social Security number triggered a chargeback by the Department of Revenue.

“Through no fault of mine,” Lechner said in public forum comments, referring to the chargeback. The tax assessor’s office representative explained that the Department of Revenue notified the chancery clerk’s office of the mismatch and the chancery clerk’s office mailed a notice to Lechner to appeal; Lechner said he did not receive that mailing and returned to the assessor’s office in 2024 after receiving a higher tax bill.

Board members moved to “correct the error so that he’s protected” and the motion carried after votes in favor. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the minutes; the chair announced the motion carried.

The board’s action restores the homestead status as requested by Lechner; the chancery clerk’s and assessor’s offices were referenced in the discussion as the administrative steps for appeal and notification. The transcript record does not show further adjustments to penalties or interest beyond reinstating the exemption.