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Parson: Bigger budget should not raise taxes
Published Saturday, June 28, 2008
NATCHEZ — On July 3 the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees will meet to host a public hearing to discuss the district’s 2009 budget.
The district is publishing advertisements in The Democrat labeled “notice of tax increase.”
However, the language of the ad is somewhat misleading, district Business Manager Margaret Parson said.
Parson said the ad is legally required any time the school board will pursue a budgetary increase.
But the increase in budget will not translate to an increase in taxes.
Parson said the district is allotted a millage of 53.95 mills derived from taxes.
The increase the school board will request should not necessitate any elevation in the millage rate.
“We don’t want to raise taxes,” Parson said.
Parson said the ad was necessary because any time the school board is requesting an increase, even if the millage is not impacted, the ad must be run.
The school board is scheduled to ask the Adams County Board of Supervisors for approximately $23,000 in additional funding.
Supervisor Darryl Grennell said the supervisors are legally bound to grant that request provided it does not exceed the millage cap of 55 mills.
Parson said the new funding will not be earmarked for a specific project but instead to keep up with increased costs of several things.
“Things like our utilities and fuel costs are going up,” she said. “It just goes into the pot to pay all the bills.”
The budget hearing will be at 4 p.m. on July 3 at the Braden Building. The meeting is open to the public.
Comments
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the reason they have to advertise it as an increase is that even though the millage rate isn't being increased, you'll pay more in taxes as the FMV of the property has been increased ("we didn't increase your tax rate, the assessor just increased the value of what we tax you on").
Posted by singlemom (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Niderbip, you are right on the money. They are wanting an increase to pay the bills because of the increase in the cost of gas and utilities, but what about requesting extra money to give their employees a raise. The poor classified staff has an increase in gas and utilities as well but the employees are not getting a raise to cover their expenses. If they are going to ask for an increase in their budget for gas and utilities, they should also ask for an increase in their budget to give their employees a raise.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They say the market value has increased, where are they living? Haven't they seen the national news and trends all across the country? Here in Rankin county, homes are being foreclosed on and they are selling for 60% of what they were selling for just 3 years ago....
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All 3 of yall are right on....
Singlemom you are so right about the employees not getting a raise but, there stuff is also going up. This is not just for the those employees but for everyone...
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