Washington County board asks attorney to study partial property-tax payment policy after resident appeal

The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted to have the county attorney research whether the board should adopt a policy allowing partial payments of property taxes after a resident urged action citing Mississippi law.

During public comment, a resident identified in the record as Miss Nolan referred to Mississippi Code §27-41-2 and described local hardship: "people in Washington County has lost their house for as little as a 160 something dollars," she said, urging the board to let taxpayers make staggered payments. She asked the board to consider a schedule under the statute that would allow half the tax by Feb. 1, a fourth by May 1 and the remainder by July 1.

Board members clarified that state law gives the county discretion — "the statute says you may do it," one supervisor said — and that Washington County has not adopted a local policy authorizing partial payments. The president and other supervisors told Nolan that without a board-adopted policy taxpayers are not automatically entitled to partial payments.

In response to the request the board made a motion to have the county attorney examine what an adopted policy would look like, including timing and administrative questions (for example, whether a partial-payment program would change the county's existing tax-sale timeline). The motion was moved, seconded and carried; the board asked the attorney to report back with options and legal considerations.

Why it matters: Allowing partial payments could reduce tax forfeitures for residents with limited cash flow, but it would change local tax administration and may require modifications to notice and collection practices. The board 's next steps are a legal review rather than immediate policy adoption.

The board did not set a deadline for the attorney's report; the matter will return to the board for a future vote if the attorney recommends adopting a policy.