NATCHEZ, Miss. – The city and county boards are spending less in the coming year for running Natchez-Adams County governments, but some local taxpayers face paying more because their property values have increased.
The Natchez Board of Aldermen and Adams County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved their separate budgets and tax millage rates for the fiscal year that starts in two weeks. The two budgets project how much to spend in the coming year — about $41 million by the city and $43 million by the county.
City and county officials envision spending about $3.6 million less in each budget than what was disbursed for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.
Natchez aldermen didn’t increase the city property tax millage rates that generate revenues for funding city government. Adams County supervisors approved a tax millage increase of 0.48 mills for county government operations.
While city officials didn’t increase taxes imposed on Natchez taxpayers, property values have been increased due to inflation. It’s not known yet how much landowners’ taxes will actually be until they get their bills later this year. Property tax values are based on use, construction and market worth.
Mayor Dan Gibson noted the tax millage rate for Natchez property owners remains the same as what it was in 2016.
As Natchez aldermen approved the budget, Gibson stressed that some property taxes are going up because of a state-mandated reassessment – not because of city officials’ actions.
“This year the Mississippi Legislature required a reassessment of property values, and there are some that have asked the city to cut its millage rate. But just as a business has to ensure enough revenue is collected to meet expenses, the city is having to make some tough choices,” Gibson said.
“We’re not going to stop doing good things,” but “we have got to balance the books.”
Gibson noted the state required properties to be assessed and revalued to reflect inflationary factors.
“We looked at it. I think on average, considering the number of households we have and the number of properties we have, (tax increases) could be anywhere from $12 to $20 to $25 a month, depending on the size of the house,” the mayor said.
As city officials plan for the coming year, they envision spending $3 million or so less than the past year. Gibson noted the city is getting less money from outside sources in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
“In the coming year, state and federal grants, COVID-relief funds and other funding sources are being cut. And, overall, the City of Natchez will likely post revenues $3.4 million short of what we posted last year.”
However, city officials are expressing relief about retaining the $24.5 million federal grant Natchez was awarded in 2024 for infrastructure improvements. The grant was temporarily frozen earlier this year by the Trump administration. However, the Board of Aldermen on Monday affirmed the agreement to receive the money from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the “Forks to Freedom Corridor” project. For the new fiscal year, city officials put $700,000 from the $24.5 million in a “to be determined” category for spending.
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