MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representatives Simpson, Barnett (116th)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 21-33-45, 27-39-307, 27-39-317, 27-39-320 AND 27-39-321, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IF BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF A MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY THE AD VALOREM TAX MILLAGE RATE FOR THE EXISTING FISCAL YEAR WILL GENERATE FUNDS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IN EXCESS OF THAT GENERATED FOR THE EXISTING FISCAL YEAR, THEN FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER THE RATE OR LEVY PROPOSED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS AN INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY SHALL REDUCE THE AD VALOREM TAX MILLAGE RATE BY THE NECESSARY AMOUNT TO PROVIDE THAT THE REVENUE GENERATED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS THE SAME AS THAT GENERATED FOR THE EXISTING FISCAL YEAR AND USE SUCH REDUCED MILLAGE RATE AS THE BASIS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE RATE OR LEVY PROPOSED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS AN INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY PROPOSED INCREASE IN REVENUE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR COMPLIES WITH CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON AD VALOREM TAX REVENUE INCREASES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 21-33-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-33-45. The governing authorities of each municipality of this state shall, either at their regular meeting in September of each year or not later than ten (10) days after the final approval of the assessment rolls, levy the municipal ad valorem taxes for the fiscal year next succeeding, and shall, by resolution, fix the tax rate or levy for the municipality and for any other taxing districts of which the municipality may be a part. The rates or levies for the municipality or for any such taxing district shall be expressed in mills or a decimal fraction of a mill, which tax rates, or levies, shall determine the ad valorem taxes to be collected upon each dollar of valuation upon the assessment rolls of the municipality for municipal taxes, and to be collected upon each dollar of valuation as shown upon the assessment rolls of the municipality for each such taxing district, except as to such values as may be exempt, in whole or in part, from certain tax rates or levies. If, because of an increase in the assessed valuation of a municipality, the ad valorem tax millage rate for the existing fiscal year will generate revenue for the next fiscal year in excess of that generated for the existing fiscal year, then for purposes of determining whether the rate or levy proposed for the next fiscal year is an increase from the previous fiscal year, the governing authorities of the municipality shall (a) reduce the ad valorem tax millage rate by the necessary amount to provide that the revenue generated for the next fiscal year is the same as that generated for the existing fiscal year and (b) use such reduced millage rate as the basis to determine whether the rate or levy proposed for the next fiscal year is an increase from the previous fiscal year. If the rates or levies for the municipality or taxing district are an increase from the previous fiscal year, then the proposed rate or levy increase shall be advertised in accordance with Sections 27-39-203 and 27-39-205.

In making the levy of taxes, the governing authorities shall specify in such resolution the levy for each purpose as follows: (a) For general revenue purposes and for general improvements, as authorized by Section 27-39-307.

(b) For school purposes, including all maintenance levies, whether made against the property within such municipality, or within any taxing district embraced in such municipality, as authorized by Section 27-39-307 and Section 37-57-3 et seq.

(c) For municipal bonds and interest thereon, for school bonds and interest thereon, separately for municipal-wide bonds and for the bonds of each school district.

(d) For municipal-wide bonds and interest thereon, other than for school bonds.

(e) For loans, notes or any other obligation, and the interest thereon, if permitted by law.

(f) For special improvement or special benefit levies, as now authorized by law.

(g) For any other purpose for which a levy is lawfully made. If any municipal-wide levy is made for any general or special purpose under the provisions of any law other than Section 27-39-307 each such levy shall be separately stated in the resolution, and the law authorizing same shall be expressly stated therein.

If the governing authorities of any municipality shall not levy the municipal taxes and the district taxes at its regular September meeting, such governing authorities shall levy the same at an adjourned or special meeting not later than ten (10) days after the final approval of the assessment rolls. However, that if such levy be not made on or before September 15 then road and bridge privilege tax license plates may be issued by the tax collector or State Tax Commission, as the case may be, for motor vehicles as defined in the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Law of 1958 (Section 27-51-1 et seq.), without collecting or requiring proof of payment of municipal ad valorem taxes until such levy is duly certified to him, and for twenty-four (24) hours thereafter.

In the case of a municipality operating under a special or private charter providing for or authorizing the assessment, levying and collection of ad valorem taxes prior to October in each year, ad valorem taxes for such municipality shall be levied at the time prescribed or authorized by such special or private charter, unless the governing authority of such municipality by resolution adopted and spread of record in its minutes elect to levy ad valorem taxes at the time prescribed hereinbefore in this section. In any event, however, all ad valorem taxes levied by any municipality in this state, shall be levied in the manner required herein regardless of the time when such taxes are levied.

SECTION 2. Section 27-39-307, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-39-307. Municipalities may levy ad valorem taxes upon all taxable property within such municipality for general revenue purposes and for general improvements. Further, the governing authorities of any municipality may make additional levies for special purposes as authorized by law. If, because of an increase in the assessed valuation of a municipality, the ad valorem tax millage rate for the existing fiscal year will generate revenue for the next fiscal year in excess of that generated for the existing fiscal year, then for purposes of determining whether the rate or levy proposed for the next fiscal year is an increase from the previous fiscal year, the governing authorities of the municipality shall (a) reduce the ad valorem tax millage rate by the necessary amount to provide that the revenue generated for the next fiscal year is the same as that generated for the existing fiscal year and (b) use such reduced millage rate as the basis to determine whether the rate or levy proposed for the next fiscal year is an increase from the previous fiscal year. Any such levy which is an increase from the previous fiscal year must be advertised in accordance with Sections 27-39-203 and 27-39-205. In addition to funding municipal general purposes, the municipal general ad valorem tax levy may be used to supplement any municipal ad valorem tax levy for a special purpose authorized by law, excluding levies for schools, without regard to any statutory millage limitation on such special purpose tax levy; however, nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt such tax levies from the limitation on total receipts under Section 27-39-321.

SECTION 3. Section 27-39-317, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-39-317. The board of supervisors of each county shall, at its regular meeting in September of each year, levy the county ad valorem taxes for the fiscal year, and shall, by order, fix the tax rate, or levy, for the county, for the road districts, if any, and for the school districts, if any, and for any other taxing districts; and the rates, or levies, for the county and for any district shall be expressed in mills or a decimal fraction of a mill. Said tax rates, or levies, shall determine the ad valorem taxes to be collected upon each dollar of valuation, upon the assessment rolls of the county, including the assessment of motor vehicles as provided by the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Law of 1958, Section 27-51-1 et seq., for county taxes; and upon each dollar of valuation for the respective districts, as shown upon the assessment rolls of the county, including the assessment of motor vehicles as provided by the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Law of 1958, Section 27-51-1 et seq.; except as to such values as shall be exempt, in whole or in part, from certain tax rates or levies. If, because of an increase in the assessed valuation of a county, the ad valorem tax millage rate for the existing fiscal year will generate revenue for the next fiscal year in excess of that generated for the existing fiscal year, then for purposes of determining whether the rate or levy proposed for the next fiscal year is an increase from the previous fiscal year, the board of supervisors of the county shall (a) reduce the ad valorem tax millage rate by the necessary amount to provide that the revenue generated for the next fiscal year is the same as that generated for the existing fiscal year and (b) use such reduced millage rate as the basis to determine whether the rate or levy proposed for the next fiscal year is an increase from the previous fiscal year. If the rate or levy for the county is an increase from the previous fiscal year, then the proposed rate or levy shall be advertised in accordance with Sections 27-39-203 and 27-39-205. If the board of supervisors of any county shall not levy the county taxes and the district taxes at its regular September meeting, the board shall levy the same on or before September 15 at an adjourned or special meeting, or thereafter, provided, however, that if such levy be not made on or before the fifteenth day of September then the tax collector or State Tax Commission may issue road and bridge privilege tax license plates for motor vehicles as defined in the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Law of 1958, Section 27-51-1 et seq., without collecting or requiring proof of payment of county ad valorem taxes, and may continue to so issue such plates until such levy is duly certified to him, and for twenty-four (24) hours thereafter.

Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, in the event the State Tax Commission orders the county to make an adjustment to the tax roll pursuant to Section 27-35-113, the county shall have a period of thirty (30) days from the date of the commission's final determination to adjust the millage in order to collect the same dollar amount of taxes as originally levied by the board.

In making the levy of taxes, the board of supervisors shall specify, in its order, the levy for each purpose, as follows:

(a) For general county purposes (current expense and maintenance taxes), as authorized by Section 27-39-303.

(b) For roads and bridges, as authorized by Section 27-39-305.

(c) For schools, including the countywide minimum education program levy and the levy for each school district including special municipal separate school districts, but not including other municipal separate school districts, and for an agricultural high school, county high school or junior college (current expense and maintenance taxes), as authorized by Chapter 57, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972, and any other applicable statute. The levy for schools shall apply to the assessed value of property in the respective school districts, including special municipal separate school districts, but not including other municipal separate school districts, and a distinct and separate levy shall be made for each school district, and the purpose for each levy shall be stated.

(d) For road bonds and the interest thereon, separately for countywide bonds and for the bonds of each road district.

(e) For school bonds and the interest thereon, separately for countywide bonds and for the bonds of each school district.

(f) For countywide bonds, and the interest thereon, other than for road bonds and school bonds.

(g) For loans, notes or any other obligation, and the interest thereon, if permitted by the law.

(h) For any other purpose for which a levy is lawfully made.

The order shall state all of the purposes for which the general county levy is made, using the administrative items suggested by the State Department of Audit of Mississippi under the county budget law in its uniform system of accounts for counties, but the rate or levy for any item or purpose need not be shown; and if a countywide levy is made for any general or special purpose under the provisions of any law other than Section 27-39-303, each such levy shall be separately stated.

During the month of February of each year, if the order or resolution of the board of trustees of any school district of said county or partly in said county, is filed with it requesting the levying of ad valorem taxes for the support and maintenance of such school district for the following fiscal year, then the board of supervisors of every such county in the state shall notify, in writing, within thirty (30) days, the county superintendent of education of such county, the levy or levies it intends to make for the support and maintenance of such school districts of such county at its regular meeting in September following, and the county superintendent of education and the trustees of all such school districts shall be authorized to use such expressed intention of the board of supervisors in computing the support and maintenance budget or budgets of such school district or districts for the ensuing fiscal school year.

SECTION 4. Section 27-39-320, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-39-320. (1) The Legislature finds and determines that legislation requiring a specific levy or requiring consent of some other governing body to reduce the levy was intended to raise a certain amount of revenue for specific purposes. Upon this determination and notwithstanding the provisions of any statute which requires a definite levy to be made or which requires that a levy may not be reduced except by the consent of some other governing authority, the amount of such levy shall be deemed to be an amount necessary to produce the revenues received in the next preceding year plus, at the option of the taxing authority, an increase not to exceed ten percent (10%) of such revenues.

(2) In any county where there is located a nuclear generating power plant on which a tax is assessed under Section 27-35-309(3), such required levy and revenue produced thereby may be reduced by the levying authority in an amount in proportion to a reduction in the base revenue of any such county from the previous year. Such reduction shall be allowed only if the reduction in base revenue equals or exceeds five percent (5%). "Base revenue" shall mean the revenue received by the county from the ad valorem tax levy plus the revenue received by the county from the tax assessed under Section 27-35-309(3) and authorized to be used for any purposes for which a county is authorized by law to levy an ad valorem tax. For purposes of determining if the reduction equals or exceeds five percent (5%), a levy of millage equal to the prior year's millage shall be hypothetically applied to the current year's ad valorem tax base to determine the amount of revenue to be generated from the ad valorem tax levy. For the purposes of this section, the portion of base revenue used to fund the purpose for which a specific levy is required shall be deemed to be the total receipts from ad valorem taxes for such purpose. This paragraph shall apply to taxes levied for the 1987 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter. If the Mississippi Supreme Court or another court finally adjudicates that the tax levied under Section 27-35-309(3) is unconstitutional, then this paragraph shall stand repealed.

(3) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied on or after October 1, 1980, no county or municipality shall levy those mills heretofore required by law to be levied to an extent that such levy shall produce more than the total receipts produced from such levy in the next preceding year, plus, at the option of the taxing authority, an increase not to exceed ten percent (10%) of such receipts. Such total receipts shall be deemed to include the total avails of such levy either collected from the property owner or by reimbursement by the state. The revenues produced from any newly constructed properties or any existing properties added to the tax rolls or any properties previously exempt which were not assessed in the next preceding year may be excluded from the limitation set forth herein.

(4) The ten percent (10%) increase limitation prescribed in this section may be increased by an additional amount by the board of supervisors of any county if the aggregate receipts from all county levies to which this section and Sections 27-39-305 and 27-39-321 apply do not exceed one hundred ten percent (110%) of the aggregate receipts from all such levies during any one (1) of the immediately preceding three (3) fiscal years, as determined by the board of supervisors.

(5) The limitations set forth in this section shall apply to the mandatory tax levied by Section 27-39-329.

(6) If, because of an increase in the assessed valuation of a county or municipality, the ad valorem tax millage rate for the existing fiscal year will generate revenue for the next fiscal year in excess of that generated for the existing fiscal year, then for purposes of determining whether any proposed increase in receipts for the next fiscal year is within the limitations provided in this section, the board of supervisors of the county or governing authorities of the municipality shall (a) reduce the ad valorem tax millage rate by the necessary amount to provide that the total receipts generated for the next fiscal year is the same as that generated for the existing fiscal year and (b) use such reduced millage rate as the basis to determine whether any proposed increase in receipts for the next fiscal year is within the limitations provided in this section.

SECTION 5. Section 27-39-321, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-39-321. (1) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied for each fiscal year, no political subdivision may levy ad valorem taxes in any fiscal year which would render in total receipts from all levies an amount more than the receipts from that source during any one (1) of the immediately preceding three (3) fiscal years, as determined by the levying governing authority, plus, at the option of the taxing authority, an increase not to exceed ten percent (10%) of such receipts. The additional revenue from the ad valorem tax on any newly constructed properties or any existing properties added to the tax rolls or any properties previously exempt, which were not assessed in the next preceding year and cost incurred and paid in the next preceding year in connection with reappraisal may be excluded from the ten percent (10%) increase limitation set forth herein. Taxes levied for school district purposes under any statute and taxes levied for the maintenance and/or construction of roads and bridges under Section 27-39-305 shall be excluded from the ten percent (10%) increase limitation set forth herein. Taxes levied for payment of principal of and interest on general obligation bonds issued heretofore or hereafter shall be excluded from the ten percent (10%) increase limitation set forth herein. Any additional millage levied to fund any new program mandated by the Legislature shall be excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy and included within such limitation in any year thereafter. The limitation imposed under this paragraph shall not apply to those mandatory levies enumerated in Sections 27-39-320 and 27-39-329.

(2) The limitation of this section may be increased only as provided in subsection (3) or (4) of this section or when the governing body of a political subdivision has determined the need for additional revenues, adopts a resolution declaring its intention so to do and has held an election on the question of raising the limitation prescribed in this section. The notice calling for an election shall state the purposes for which the additional revenues shall be used, the amount of the tax levy to be imposed for such purposes and period of time for which such tax levy shall be made; however, such tax levy shall not be made for more than five (5) successive years. The limitation may be increased under this subsection only if the proposed increase is approved by a majority of those voting. Subject to specific provisions of this paragraph to the contrary, the publication of notice and manner of holding the election shall be as prescribed by law for the holding of elections for the issuance of bonds by the political subdivision. Revenues derived from any taxes levied pursuant to such election shall be excluded from the tax base for the purpose of determining aggregate receipts for which the ten percent (10%) increase limitation applies.

(3) As an alternative to the procedure provided in subsection (2) of this section, the ten percent (10%) increase limitation prescribed in this section may be increased by an additional amount by the board of supervisors of any county without an election thereon if the aggregate receipts from all county levies to which this section and Sections 27-39-305 and 27-39-320 apply do not exceed one hundred ten percent (110%) of the aggregate receipts from all such levies during any one (1) of the immediately preceding three (3) fiscal years, as determined by the board of supervisors.

(4) As an alternative to the procedure provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the board of supervisors of any county or the governing authorities of any municipality may, without an election thereon, increase the ad valorem tax levy to which this section applies by the greater of:

(a) An ad valorem tax levy that does not result in an aggregate levy to which this section applies in excess of twenty (20) mills; or

(b) An ad valorem tax levy that is not in excess of any aggregate levy to which this section applies in any one (1) of the immediately preceding ten (10) fiscal years.

(5) In any county where there is located a nuclear generating power plant on which a tax is assessed under Section 27-35-309(3), the term "total receipts" as used in this section shall be the portion of the "base revenue" as defined in Section 27-39-320 which is used for General Fund purposes.

(6) If a shortfall occurs in revenues from sources other than ad valorem taxes and oil and gas severance taxes budgeted for the county or municipal general fund during the 1987 fiscal year, then the county or municipality, as the case may be, may levy a special ad valorem tax for the 1988 fiscal year in an amount the avails of which shall not exceed such shortfall; provided, however, that the aggregate receipts from all ad valorem levies for the county or municipal general fund for the 1988 fiscal year shall not exceed the aggregate receipts from this source for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus an increase not to exceed twenty percent (20%).

(7) If a shortfall occurs in revenues from oil and gas severance taxes budgeted for the county or municipal general fund during the 1987 fiscal year, then the county or municipality, as the case may be, may levy a special ad valorem tax for the 1988 fiscal year in an amount the avails of which shall not exceed such shortfall. The avails of such special ad valorem tax shall not be included within the ten percent (10%) increase limitation. The ad valorem taxes levied to offset the shortfall shall be deemed to be ad valorem tax receipts produced in the 1988 fiscal year for the purposes of determining the limitation on receipts for the succeeding fiscal years.

(8) If, because of an increase in the assessed valuation of a county or municipality, the ad valorem tax millage rate for the existing fiscal year will generate revenue for the next fiscal year in excess of that generated for the existing fiscal year, then for purposes of determining whether any proposed increase in receipts for the next fiscal year is within the limitations provided in this section, the board of supervisors of the county or governing authorities of the municipality shall (a) reduce the ad valorem tax millage rate by the necessary amount to provide that the total receipts generated for the next fiscal year is the same as that generated for the existing fiscal year and (b) use such reduced millage rate as the basis to determine whether any proposed increase in receipts for the next fiscal year is within the limitations provided in this section.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.