Norris tentatively OKs 88.5-cent tax rate
By a measure passed on first reading Monday night, Norris residents will pay a state-certified property tax rate of 88.5 cents per $100 evaluation for fiscal year 2026, retroactive to July 1.
It’s designed to hold the gross tax collection amount from last year despite a countywide property reassessment this year that raised assessed values significantly.
The City Council approved the new rate unanimously during its regular meeting Monday, and will hold a special meeting at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, to finalize the rate in time for city staff to begin mailing out tax bills to property owners as scheduled.
City Manager Adam Ledford said the new rate was provided by the state Board of Equalization.
Although property values have increased, state law requires local governments to set their new tax rates to maintain the same level of revenue that was received under the previous year’s tax rate.
Local governments are not permitted to benefit automatically from the new property assessments unless they go through the required formal process to raise their property taxes.
Ledford and Mayor Chris Mitchell had said earlier that the city did not intend to raise taxes for the new fiscal year.
The city’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget – which does not include water and sewer -- calls for spending $2.797 million, against projected general revenues of $2.2 million. The spending plan includes capital expenditures that would be offset by grant money.
Total local tax revenues are projected to be $1.2 million, including $788,000 in real property tax collections and $280,000 in local-option sales taxes, along with other lesser revenue amounts and sources.
Other money for the budget will come from “intergovernmental revenue” of $673,775, $197,860 in charges for administrative services, $6,500 from licenses and permits, $2,680 from fines and penalties, and $148,000 in miscellaneous revenues.
