County tax rolls growing in new Tax Assessor’s report

The preliminary report on the DeSoto County tax rolls is again showing the attractiveness of the county for homes and businesses by the increasing figures.  

The report was presented to the Board of Supervisors at the meeting of Monday, July 3 by Tax Assessor Jeff Fitch, who said the county saw a 9.05 percent increase in its complete assessed value in the past year.

That amounts to $2.693 billion, which puts DeSoto County among the top three in Mississippi.  

“It’s by far the highest assessed value we’ve ever had, and it’s steadily climbing,” he said.  

Last year, the total valuation in the county was $2.47 billion. The figures are preliminary and may be adjusted prior to the finalization of the figures in August, Fitch said.  

“There are going to be adjustments, up or down, in the next month, but it’s going to be real close,” he said.  

DeSoto County saw a strong and steady real property increase but much of the growth came from personal property and the strong housing market.  People are coming to DeSoto county to buy and build.  

“They’re coming from everywhere. Not just Memphis, but they’re coming from everywhere,“ Fitch said. “People are finding out that we have a great place to live, incredible schools and we have one of the lowest tax rates around. It’s very attractive for folks.”  

The Tax Assessor added that percentage of growth in assessed value may not be the largest ever, but it still reflected a strong year.  

“We were up about seven percent last year but two years ago we had an index change with steady growth and we were at 11 percent,” said Fitch. “About four percent of that was the index change and the other part was new growth. Nine percent is a strong year.”  

HONOR OUR TROOPS CLASSIC DONATION: Mike Reed, DeSoto County Veterans Services Office appeared before supervisors to request support for this year’s Honor Our Troops Golf Classic event, set for Sept. 22 at the Olive Branch Country Club. The board voted to increase its donation to the classic from $300 last year to $500 this year.  

The Honor Our Troops Classic is annually held to show support for active military and veterans in DeSoto County. The format will change this year, according to Reed, one of the event organizers.  

“The civilian people who originated the tournament are no longer with us,” Reed said. “It was either going to collapse or the veterans completely took it over and that’s what we did.”

This year’s classic will involve golf only without the dinner function held the night before the tournament. All of the money this year will stay in DeSoto county and with the Fisher House being constructed at the Memphis Veterans Administration Hospital.  

The Fisher House offers free lodging to family members of veterans being treated at the VA Hospital. The Fisher House Foundation builds the home through donations and then gifts it to the VA for operation. Each home has up to 21 suites for lodging.