According to early estimates, Adams County residents could be in for another tax increase, although county officials are not sure how much that figure would be if a tax increase is necessary.

County Administrator Charlie Brown is still working on figures for next fiscal year’s budget and expects to have preliminary figures ready by early August. Supervisors would vote on the budget, following public hearings, in September.

&uot;It’s possible,&uot; Brown said of a tax increase, which he said would only be the second in the last decade for county residents. &uot;I won’t make a definite statement. There may be some things we can do&uot; to save money.

Brown said he could not predict how much a tax increase would be if he recommends it.

Among the reasons for a possible tax increase are increased expenditures for the Adams County Port and for the juvenile justice center under construction on State Street downtown.

Brown said the port owes about $289,000 in debt payments for improvements. Port Director Pat Murphy was out of town Monday and could not be reached for comment.

Brown said he does not know yet whether the port, which is owned by the county and run by the Adams County Port Commission.

Last year, the county raised taxes 1.17 mills, or about $18 in taxes per $100,000 house, but saved a larger increase by not giving raises to county employees.

Total millage assessed for Adams County residents is 98.59 mills, with 54.81 mills levied by the county and 43.78 levied for the Natchez-Adams County School District.

Last year’s tax increase was also designated in part to help pay debt expenses at the port, which is otherwise self-supporting.

Former port commission chairman Donnie Holloway said last year was the first time the port, one of the few government-owned ports in the state which does not have any tax millage designated for it, had to rely on financial help from yjr county.

&uot;The port pays its bills,&uot; said Holloway, now Natchez city clerk.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell said he does not want to see another tax increase because he believes it could have been avoided if the county sought to lease the port to an industry.

&uot;It frustrates me because we have not looked at potential lessees for the port,&uot; Grennell said. &uot;A lot of local governments have leased their ports out. I don’t think we’ve been aggressive enough in looking to lease that out.&uot;

Grennell said he would like to see any lease contract include the requirement that the industry keep the port open for other businesses.

&uot;Surely they will be receptive to that because they will want to be making money,&uot; Grennell said.

But Brown said the county has fared well without asking much more of taxpayers over the years.

&uot;The county’s done very well in spite of additional expenditures … and unforseen costs without raising taxes,&uot; Brown said. &uot;We’ve tried not (to raise taxes).&uot;

Similarly, the City of Natchez, which levies 33.33 mills in property tax, has not raised taxes in the last decade.