Property owners in Marion County could see increases in their taxes when bills are mailed out later this fall.
The 2017 real property assessment has increased because of reappraisal, according to Tax Assessor/Collector Teresa Terrell.
“The Mississippi Administrative Code requires the Assessor’s Office to go through an update process every four years,” she said. “The tax roll was turned into the Marion County Board of Supervisors in July and appeals begin Monday.”
According to Terrell and Assessor Reshea Huhn, studies are performed by information provided by taxpayers in regards to new construction and property transactions. Each county is provided with a pricing manual from the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Each county then sets a location index, which is determined by a formula using new construction cost for the county. In 2013, the county adopted the state index at 1.03. For 2017, the southern state index has risen to 1.13; however through the studies formulated, the county was able to keep the index at 1.07.
“This does increase value on most structures in the county,” Terrell said. “The index changes county by county. We could have gone up more, but we were able to keep it under the state numbers. We’ve kept it as minimal as possible.”
Another factor, according to Terrell, is land pricing.
“Agricultural land prices are given to each county by MDOR,” she said. “These prices have increased for 2017.”
Additionally, a new land pricing guide was formulated for 2017, which brings land pricing more evenly across the county. For rural areas in Marion County, if you own more than 20 acres of raw land, agricultural use is automatically applied. If the land is less than 20 acres, one acre at market is applied and the remaining land is priced at agricultural land.
According to Terrell, a large study was done and the average price per acre for the county averaged out at $4,000 per acre. In addition to that, there is additional cost for utility hook-ups (electricity, sewage, water, etc.). A study was also conducted on land pricing inside the city limits. Several areas were adjusted based on sales data that was collected by the office.
“The Assessor’s Office is required to collect sales data, according to Mississippi code,” Terrell said. “When property is transferred, the Assessor’s Office is required to send out sales questionnaires to collect data. The office also formulated a questionnaire on the cost of new construction. The information in these questionnaires helps keep data accurate and as correct as possible. There has been a great response in getting the questionnaires back over the last four years.”
Terrell said that her office will continue to ask taxpayers to provide data so when another update is performed in 2021, they will have enough data.
“These questionnaires are used for studies only,” she said. “MDOR sets guidelines that each county must stay within. This assures that the county is not over assessing or under assessing. Without the questionnaires, this would not be possible.”
Huhn said those who are curious about their assessments need to check them now.
“They need to check the documentation,” she said. “We’re trying to make the public aware that the time to correct errors is now. If there is an error, we need to correct it now. It is important to do this before the final roll is done.”
The tax rolls can be checked by viewing them at the Marion County Board of Supervisors’ offices on Courthouse Square, by contacting the Assessor’s Office, Appraisal Office or by visiting www.deltacomputersystems.com.
Mississippi Code 27-35-89 states that objections are heard on the first Monday in August.
“If you disagree with your assessment, you may present an objection in writing with documentation that the assessment is incorrect to Chancery Clerk Cass Barnes, the clerk of the Board of Supervisors on or before Aug. 7,” Terrell said.
Terrell urged property owners to research the rolls.
“Sometimes there are errors,” she said. “If you don’t agree with it, ask about it. If you didn’t check it and didn’t appeal it, it will go onto the final rolls that way. It is important to do this before the final roll is done.”
Tax statements will be sent to property owners at the end of November.
