Aug. 6, 2025 – The Hernando Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to reduce the city’s property tax rate to 35.7654 mills for the upcoming fiscal year, a five-mill decrease from last year. The move is intended to ease the impact of DeSoto County’s recent countywide property reassessment, which raised taxable values across the city and county.
Ward 4 Alderman Chad Wicker explained that while the reassessment is beyond the city’s control, the Board sought to provide residents with some relief through a responsible reduction in the millage rate.
“Many residents are understandably concerned about higher property tax bills,” Wicker said in a statement. “We took this step to protect household budgets while maintaining critical city services.”
Wicker noted that achieving a net-zero increase in real property taxes wasn’t possible due to several factors, including:
Mississippi law freezes taxable home values for seniors over 65 with a homestead exemption, but they still benefit from the lower rate.
A deeper rate cut would have impacted revenue from other sources such as utilities, personal property, and vehicles.
A drastic reduction could have jeopardized the city’s financial stability, potentially leading to steeper hikes in the future.
The approved rate offers immediate relief without risking the city’s budget integrity, Wicker emphasized.
Alderman Wicker also released a chart estimating the tax impact at the new rate:
