The Howell County Commission voted Thursday afternoon to eliminate the county's general revenue property tax rate, rolling it back to 0%.
The decision came during a public tax rate hearing held at 1 p.m. in the second floor conference room at the Howell County Office Building.
In addition to setting the general revenue levy, commissioners considered a potential increase to the county's Road and Bridge property tax rate. Following discussion, the commission voted to keep that levy unchanged at 0.1775% — the same rate in effect for the past several years.
In a press release issued following the hearing, Presiding Commissioner Ralph Riggs framed the rollback as an effort to ease costs for residents, while noting that county operations would continue under current revenue levels.
"We understand that every dollar matters to the families, farmers, businesses and property owners of Howell County," Riggs said. "When county government can operate responsibly without increasing the property tax burden on our residents, we believe that is the right thing to do."
While property taxes generated for general revenue will drop to zero under the new rate, county officials stated essential services will not be affected.
"Our responsibility is not simply to determine how much revenue government can collect, but how responsibly we can operate with the resources entrusted to us," Riggs said. "We will continue working to meet the needs of Howell County while keeping the impact on our residents as low as reasonably possible."
