Politics

'The tax rate will go down,' county pledges in video

A county tax video answers the question taxpayers are asking when they look at their new property value.

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 18, 2023

Henderson County commissioners twice this week sought to assure taxpayers that a 48 percent spike in the tax base does not mean tax bills will increase by that amount. First, early in the week, the county's new chief communications officer, Mike Morgan, released a "What's Happening in Henderson County" video saying the tax rate won't go up. Then, during their regular meeting on Wednesday, commissioners all said the tax rate will go down, not stay the same.

In the video, Morgan noted that the county was getting questions about the 2024 tax bills, based on the property values made official on Jan. 1 in the quadrennial reappraisal.

“So does that mean my taxes will be going up by 50 percent? Well, the answer to that specific question is no," Morgan said in the video. "There are two pieces (that make up the tax bill) — the number from the 2023 reappraisal and the tax rate that will be set by the Board of Commissioners. As an example, if the tax rate remains the same, then yes, there will be quite an increase to your property tax bill. But among the Board of Commissioners, there is no discussion about keeping the tax rate the same. The tax rate will go down.”

Commissioners must set a tax rate and adopt a 2023 budget by July 1. State law requires a public hearing on both. The tax collector will send out tax bills in July. Commissioners stopped short of committing to a revenue neutral tax rate.

 Go here to read about the 2023 reappraisal or look up a property value. Reach the tax office at 828-697-4870.