Because the county tax rolls have increased, the Natchez-Adams School Board may not raise taxes after all.

&uot;We’re tickled to death,&uot;&160;said Terry Estes, school board president. &uot;We’ll just have to amend our budget.&uot;

The budget and the amended resolution for the ad valorem tax is on the agenda for today’s regular school board meeting at 4 p.m.

Although the district originally estimated it needed a .59 millage increase this year, new figures from the county tax office may prove otherwise.

Growth in Adams County this year was actually closer to $6 million that the $3 million the district originally used when figuring its $37 million budget.

Tax assessor Reynolds Atkins said the growth was normal.

This brings the county’s total assessed value to $203 million, Atkins said.

Since the district does not use the same fiscal year as the county, it must prepare its budget each summer before all the information on new properties is available.

The district was told to use last year’s figures, with an estimated $3 million added for anticipated growth, when drafting its 1999-2000 budget, Atkins said.

Atkins attributed the $6 million growth to a variety of sources, including new properties and an increase in car tags. Tax exemptions for two local companies also expired this year.

The county routinely gives out tax exemptions to companies for various projects, usually for just a 10-year period, Atkins said.

When district officials first calculated the budget with only the additional $3 million, officials said they needed the .59 millage increase to pay off an old debt.

The tax increase would have meant a $8.85 tax increase per year per $100,000 home.

The school board had already held a public hearing on this year’s budget before it discovered the change in the amount of new properties.

The school board also was required to submit its budget to the Adams County Board of Supervisors by July 15.