Supervisors reject LCSD tax request, reduce overall tax rate by 2 mills
In a unanimous vote Tuesday morning, Lowndes County Board of Supervisors rejected the county school district’s request for $27.4 million in local property tax funds for Fiscal Year 2021 and instead agreed to allocate roughly $3.5 million less than the requested figure.
City of Columbus approves millage rate with no increase
Columbus residents will see a flat millage rate in Fiscal Year 2021, following a 5-0 vote from the City Council during a special-call meeting Tuesday night. Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens was absent.
Almost 3-mill increase expected for Oktibbeha operations
Oktibbeha County’s recent road bond, its upcoming industrial park pledge, a funding increase for volunteer fire services and other tentative pledges are expected to increase taxes by 2.88 mills in the upcoming fiscal year.
Mill value increases in Lowndes, Columbus
Mill values for every tax-levying entity in Lowndes County appear to be up this year, according to preliminary figures from Tax Assessor Greg Andrews’ office.
CMSD won’t ask for millage increase for FY ’18
Columbus Municipal School District does not plan to ask for a property tax increase next fiscal year.
TIFs possible for Lee Middle redevelopment
Columbus City Council unanimously approved on Tuesday a resolution of intent for the issuance of tax increment financing bonds of up to $4 million for development at Lee Middle School.
Trainer calls for millage increase to support road projects
District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer will pitch a millage increase in the next two months for countywide road paving and reclamation projects.
CMSD to draw less from reserves
A higher than expected mill value will slightly mitigate Columbus Municipal School District budget concerns for next fiscal year, school officials said Wednesday.
City, schools spar during budget meeting
Tension occasionally punctuated a three-hour school board meeting that, at one point, featured Mayor Robert Smith saying he felt he was being treated like a “second class citizen.”
Our View: Apathy is the enemy in our school-funding crisis
Joe Max Higgins surveyed the audience that had gathered at the Nissan Auditorium on the MUW campus. He was not happy with the turnout of about 50 or so Golden Triangle Development LINK Trust and Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce members who had come to the event.
CMSD expected to tap reserves rather than raise taxes
Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Philip Hickman says he’ll recommend withdrawing from the district’s reserve funds to avoid a tax increase for the coming fiscal year.
Spears: CMSD tax hike unnecessary
One Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees member has a proposition to fund the district’s increased budget without raising taxes.
Our View: Columbus schools must justify tax increase in face of alternate plan
Earlier this month Columbus Municipal School District officials presented a preliminary request for an additional $1.4 million to Lowndes Tax Assessor Greg Andrews. Funded solely by the taxpayers of Columbus, it would have represented the largest school tax increase in recent memory.
CMSD funding request alarms mayor, council
After two days of closed-door discussions with city officials and the county tax assessor, the Columbus Municipal School District appears poised to ask for a significant increase in taxes.
Our View: CMSD must tighten belt on its budget request
Although the Columbus Municipal School District stresses it has not finalized its budget request for the 2017 school year, it seems certain the district will be requesting a significant increase in funding.
Analysis: SOCSD debt-sharing law lowers Starkville residents’ taxes
Starkville and Oktibbeha County residents living in the former Starkville School District’s extended territory will see a slight reduction in their overall tax bill thanks to a school debt-sharing bill passed by state lawmakers this term.
Council sets FY2016 millage rate
The Columbus City Council approved a slight overall millage decrease during a budget hearing Tuesday.
Overall county millage rate increasing .91 mills for school needs
Oktibbeha County supervisors on Monday are expected to approve an overall 111.88-mill governmental and school ad valorem tax rate, which is almost a mill increase from the current levy.
Value of West Point mill projected to increase
Property in the city of West Point may be worth more money next year than it is now.
Lowndes voters to decide school bond issue
Lowndes County voters outside Columbus city limits will head to the polls next month to vote “Yes” or “No” on a $47 million school bond issue.
The proposed bond is part of a Lowndes County School District master plan that overhauls campuses in Caledonia, New Hope and West Lowndes.