Foster addresses property tax concerns

July 30, 2025 – At a Wednesday morning session of the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce’s “Grits and Government,”, DeSoto County Supervisor Robert Foster took on one of the most pressing concerns facing county residents: expected increases in property assessments. Foster sought to clarify the reasons behind the changes, outline possible impacts on taxpayers, and lay out steps the county may take to soften the blow—including a possible reduction in the millage rate.

“This is a complicated mess,” Foster acknowledged, as he explained how a directive from the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR) is driving property values up across the state. The DOR is requiring counties to ensure their assessed property values fall within 85 percent to 100 percent of the appraised market value. This has forced assessors—many of whom had been holding values low to spare residents from rising tax bills—to raise assessments more sharply this year.

In DeSoto County, Tax Assessor Jeff Fitch chose to implement the bare minimum 85 percent threshold, a move Foster called “another good thing,” noting that it could have been up to 15 percent higher.

Had the county gradually raised assessed values over the past decade, residents could have seen three to five percent increases each year.

Foster emphasized that the increased assessment does not automatically mean a higher tax bill. That depends on what local governing bodies do with the millage rate, the multiplier used to calculate actual tax owed.

“There’s still time to make this right,” Foster said, revealing that DeSoto County Board of Supervisors is likely to vote in September to reduce the millage rate in an effort to offset the higher property values. “I have a good feeling that all five of our county supervisors are going to vote to reduce the millage rate,” he said.

The millage rate adjustment could have several ripple effects.

For instance, senior citizens (65+) and disabled residents who filed for homestead exemption by January 2025 are protected, as their assessed values are frozen. If local governments cut the millage rate, these residents could actually see lower tax bills.

Car tag fees would also decrease across the board with a millage rate cut.

Everyone else’s impact will vary, depending on how the assessment changes interact with any potential millage rate cuts. Foster described the situation as “a moving target” that will affect property classes and households differently.

While the Board of Supervisors has voiced support for reducing the millage rate, the final outcome also depends on decisions made by city governments and the DeSoto County School District, which controls a large share of local property taxes. Foster said he’s heard indications that the City of Hernando may follow the county’s lead, but he was unsure where other cities or the school board stand.

However, city officials in Horn Lake and Olive Branch have publicly said they plan to lower millage rates when they set budgets and the DeSoto County School District this week also told parents in start of school information that the Board of Education will look to reduce millage rates, as well.  

When asked where the push for increased assessments came from, Foster pointed to the Mississippi Department of Revenue. “They do have executive authority over assessor departments,” he said, explaining that the rule is meant to prevent corruption or favoritism in local assessment practices. Foster didn’t shy away from criticizing its implementation, suggesting it amounts to a state-mandated tax increase.

However, the DOR has said the standard has been in place since at least 2007, is not a new policy, but rather a continuation of existing compliance benchmarks.

During the meeting, Foster floated a long-term idea for broader tax reform: eliminate property taxes entirely for seniors in their primary residence.

“You’ve worked your whole life. At some point, you shouldn’t have to keep paying rent to the government on a house you already own,” Foster said. He proposed phasing in such a change over several years to minimize budget disruption.

Foster said the Board of Supervisors expects to vote on the millage rate in September, ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline for adopting the county budget. He encouraged residents to remain informed and proactive, especially if they believe their property assessment is inaccurate.