Judge Barnes schedules joint meeting on panhandling ordinance, says tax collection likely to shift toward November

Judge/Executive Mason Barnes used the Sept. 16 Simpson County Fiscal Court meeting to outline several upcoming meetings and community events and to flag timing changes for property-tax collection.

Barnes announced Fall Break for county employees the week of Oct. 6–10 and said the City/County joint meeting on Oct. 20 will include consideration of the county’s Public Panhandling/Solicitation Ordinance. He also scheduled a special called meeting for Sept. 30 to address financial business.

Barnes and other officials noted a number of community events in the coming weeks, including a Chamber of Commerce cookout on Sept. 23, a ribbon cutting for the new County Clerk’s Office on Sept. 17 (with a candlelight service for the Charlie Kirk family the same evening), a Cruise-In on the Square on Sept. 19 and an Antique Car Show on Sept. 20. Magistrate Myron Thurman announced an Antique Tractor Show at Community Park on Sept. 27, and Magistrate Scott Poston announced a Sept. 25 ribbon cutting for a new fitness area at the Community Park.

Sheriff Jere Dee Hopson reminded drivers to be aware of deer on county roads and described how property taxes are apportioned by property-tax districts. Hopson said the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) assesses property on a four-year cycle and that homestead exemptions for residents age 65 or disabled are handled through the PVA office. He said that while property taxes usually begin being collected Oct. 1, collection this year is expected to move closer to Nov. 1 because the Simpson County School Board has not yet turned in its rates; local collection dates must also be approved by the state.

The court recorded these announcements and then adjourned at 10:37 a.m.