Cherokee County Property Tax Rates being Advertised:

At our last meeting, the BOC voted to advertise a 0.27-mill potential increase in the County Maintenance & Operations [M&O] millage rate from the current 4.984 rate. For a typical $487,500 home with an accumulated $55,000 homestead exemption, the increase from last year would be about $38 or about 5%. With the “floating” homestead exemption, that would be the only increase to the County M&O line on your tax bill, even if your assessed value increased. We haven’t decided on the actual rate yet. It can be lower than the advertised rate, but not higher.

The homestead “freeze” is part of the need to increase the rate. The County M&O tax is the primary revenue source for the county’s General Fund, which covers most county operations including the Sheriff’s Office, Court System, and Ambulance Service. With the biggest portion of the tax digest frozen for that tax, the revenues don’t rise with inflation like they do for other taxes. Yet the county experiences inflation like everyone else, notably because law enforcement salaries have had to increase sharply to keep them competitive with surrounding jurisdictions.

The good options for reducing the General Fund budget have been identified and taken. (Excerpt from an update from the County Commission Chairperson Harry B. Johnston, shared with permission)