If a proposed school tax increase passes, Adams County homeowners will pay just more than $1 more a year for a $100,000 house — but that’s no more than homeowners were paying this time a year ago.

The Natchez-Adams School Board is seeking a 0.12 millage ad valorem tax increase, which equals a 56-cent increase for a $50,000 house, said Adams County Tax Assessor Reynolds Atkins. The proposed tax increase for the upcoming fiscal year will return the school district’s total millage rate to 43.90, a rate it held during the 1998-99 fiscal year.

This tax rate dropped slightly for the 1999-2000 school year because new property growth in the county was larger than expected — closer to $6 million than $3 million.

Since the school district has to develop its budget prior to figures on new property becoming available from the Adams County Tax Assessor’s office, the proposal is subject to change.

&uot;I’m hoping these figures will hold up,&uot; said Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis said, adding he hopes the district can at least get the money it needs with the increase.

All proposals can be adjusted once the final tax figures are available. For example, last year the district proposed raising taxes 0.59 mills — or $8.85 per $100,000 home — until receiving the numbers on the large property growth in the county.

Atkins told the school board to use last year’s tax figures when totaling this year’s budget. He expects about a $1 million increase in assessed property this year and hopes to have the figures finalized today.

The school district is proposing a $37,726,299 budget for the 2000-01 fiscal year, down slightly from its 1999-00 operating budget of $38,430,955.

Of the proposed budget, 21.82 percent, or $8,232,627, would be financed with the local ad valorem tax levy.

To cut expenses for the upcoming year, the district eliminated seven unfilled teaching positions, Davis said.

It also eliminated other unfilled positions and made adjustments in how the district funds certain positions, switched some of those costs to other eligible sources, allowing the district to cut $516,000 from its proposed budget.

&uot;I think we are doing a good job with the public money,&uot; said Davis, adding the district is still able to provide quality services.