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The Decatur County Commissioners met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday evening. Some of the items on the agenda included considering an adoption of the Unified Development Ordinance, and considering approval both for a mower bid for the Decatur County Airport, and for an order for new vehicles for the prison and 9-1-1.

Another of the items on the agenda was considering approval of a tax levy for 2022; specifically a reduction in the county’s maintenance and operation (M & O) property tax millage rate.

“From last year to this year, the M & O was decreased by 0.392 of a mill,” county administrator Alan Thomas told the Post-Searchlight. According to the current tax digest, the total county property value has increased since last year, from $954,315,468 to $1,028,988,534. “So there’s an increase in valuation, so to be on the same level, then you’d reduce your collection rate,” Thomas explained. “You hear people talk a lot of times about the growth of the digest is what helps keep taxes in check… That’s why counties and municipalities pursue the increase in population and industry, business, that sort of thing.”

The millage was just recently approved by the Department of Revenue, and the notices and bills are expected to be sent out this coming week. “If your property value is the same this year as last year, then your reduction is going to be based on that millage rate,” Thomas said. “However, if the value of your property increased last year to this year, then you may see an increase in what the value is, and then of course what you pay in taxes. But the fact of the matter is, the millage rate has decreased by that amount.”

The next county commissioner meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, at 9:00 AM.