NATCHEZ, Miss. – The higher taxes Natchez-Adams County property owners owe are due in two weeks, but amounts could be subsequently reduced if they can persuade the county Board of Supervisors that properties were erroneously valued or levied.
“If there’s an error, they can come before the board,” said Scott Slover, the supervisors’ attorney.
Properties in Natchez and Adams County were reassessed in 2025, causing values to increase and account for inflation and other contributing factors. Tax bills were sent out early this month revealing the resulting higher taxes.
Property owners can attempt to get the taxes lowered by appealing first to county Tax Assessor Larry Hughes’ office, Slover said. If the tax assessor agrees a parcel was overvalued, he can recommend the Board of Supervisors make an appropriate adjustment to the taxes owed. If the tax assessor disagrees that the property was overvalued, the owner can challenge that by asking the five county supervisors to reduce the amount. However, the owner must have two real estate appraisers backing his case that the parcel was erroneously valued, Slover said.
The appeal process can continue past the first of February deadline for taxes to be paid, he said.
The tax bills local parcel holders received earlier this month are the combined total of what’s owed to the city of Natchez, Adams County and the Natchez-Adams School District.
A state-mandated reassessment process has resulted in property values rising due to inflation and other contributing factors. Property tax values are calculated based on several factors, including how the property is used, its construction and the current market value. The Mississippi Department of Revenue requires counties to reassess property values every four years to reflect changes in the market and ensure tax equity.
MDOR-guided changes made in this process resulted in the 2025 increases that accumulated into the tax bills that caused sticker shock for many Natchez-Adams County property owners. “It was a lot at one time,” said Wayne Herring, a professional appraiser who’s been assisting Adams County in recent years evaluating properties.
Adams County supervisors said Tuesday they didn’t realize last year when setting the county budget that the property valuation changes would cause such high taxes. If they had known, the board could’ve reduced the tax millage rate that generates revenues necessary for funding county operations. “When you don’t know, you can’t do that,” said Supervisor Ricky Gray.
Board President Angela Hutchins acknowledged she and other supervisors have been feeling heat from constituents angered by their tax bills.
To view Adams County property tax information that includes how much is owed for each parcel, go online to www.deltacomputersystems.com/ms/ms01/plinkquerym.html
To contact the Adams County tax assessor’s office, phone 601 442-6732.
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