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Supervisors set tax‑asking, schedule max‑levy hearing and earmark capital projects
Summary
During a budget work session the board reviewed tax‑asking numbers (total property tax asking $7,868,788), agreed to a $300,000 provisional transfer from General Basic to General Supplemental, scheduled a March 23 max‑levy public hearing, and earmarked $1.6M for capital projects plus $200,000 from local option sales tax for conservation cold storage.
At a Feb. 23 budget work session, Chickasaw County staff presented updated tax‑asking figures and proposed budget adjustments for fiscal 2026–27. The county’s property‑tax asking (property tax only) was presented as $7,868,788. Staff explained changes across fund levies caused by valuation growth and budget amendments and described the interplay between use of fund balance and levy rates.
Board discussion and actions included:
- A staff request to transfer $300,000 from General Basic to General Supplemental to cover early‑year needs; supervisors expressed consensus that the transfer is permissible and will be included in next year’s budget resolution.
- Scheduling a public hearing on the max levy for March 23 at 9:00 a.m., followed by a regular meeting at 9:15 a.m., to comply with public‑notice requirements for the tax‑asking process.
- Capital‑project allocations: staff recommended and the board agreed in principle to place $1,600,000 in a non‑departmental capital projects account (department 99) for courthouse and related building projects, and to allocate $200,000 of local option sales tax to county conservation for cold‑storage improvements. The allocations will be refined in coming budget amendments and project specifications.
Officials noted a potential state law limiting growth in tax asking to a 2 percent statutory target for certain funds and discussed how valuation increases and new construction could alter levy dynamics going forward. Board members asked staff to prepare the necessary resolutions and notices for the pre‑levy resolution and to bring back detailed project costs and RFP specs (for example, courthouse windows and other capital work) before funds are expended.
The board also approved routine claims, payroll and prior bills during the meeting (claims totaling $130,445.07 were approved by roll call).
Next steps: Staff will prepare the pre‑levy resolution, public notices for the March 23 hearing, and more detailed capital project specifications and RFP packages for board approval.
