Olive Branch Board Approves Budget, Reduces Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2026

OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. — The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen on Tuesday night approved the city’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1, and adopted a lower property tax millage rate amid countywide reassessments.

Mayor Ken Adams announced following the vote that the city’s property millage rate will drop to 35.05 mills, an 8.96 percent reduction. Olive Branch will continue to have the lowest municipal millage rate in DeSoto County.

“This is a big shift affecting both your county, city, and school district taxes,” Adams wrote in a message to residents. “In every way, Olive Branch is working to remain a great place to live, work, worship, and play.”

The change follows updated property assessments mandated by the Mississippi Department of Revenue. DeSoto County Tax Assessor Jeff Fitch told county supervisors earlier this summer that the state required assessors to move property values closer to fair market value. County assessments, which were previously at 56 percent of market value, are now set at 85 percent.

“The Mississippi Department of Revenue has mandated that we change our pricing manuals as well as change our index to get closer to the fair market value,” Fitch said. “So we had to make those changes for the 2025 tax year.”

The reassessment affects only real property with improvements, such as homes or commercial buildings. Land without structures and personal property are not impacted.

What the Olive Branch Budget Funds

The new millage rate is expected to provide revenue for:

• Street paving and road improvements, including widening Craft Road between Church Road and College Road
• A matching grant for a multi-use trail along Church Road
• Construction of Fire Station No. 6 and a new Public Works facility
• Purchasing a new ambulance and knuckle boom trucks
• Hiring additional staff, including paramedics, animal shelter workers, and park maintenance personnel
• Upgrades to water, wastewater, and gas utility lines

Tax bills based on the new assessments and millage rates will be mailed in December 2025 and are due Feb. 1, 2026.

Adams said city leaders remain committed to fiscal responsibility. “Like you, the Board and I are taxpayers ourselves,” he said. “We share your concerns and your desire to see your tax dollars spent wisely. Our millage rate will provide revenue to support the infrastructure, planning, and recreational amenities that make Olive Branch a great place to live.”