Looks like your property taxes are going up, albeit it slightly, but it’s not due to a Lakeland tax increase.
Last night, Monday, June 8, 2021, the Shelby County Commission voted to set the new county rate at $3.46 per $100 of assessed value. This applies to any home located inside Shelby County. The old rate was $4.05 but since it’s a reappraisal year, and home values have gone up tremendously in the area, Shelby County has to set a new state-certified property tax rate. That rate must result to the same amount of tax collections as the previous year. The new certified rate for Shelby County is $3.45, but according to Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright, who represents Lakeland, there will be a small increase. The Commissioner stated online that, ”Commissioner Sawyer moved to amend the rate initially to $3.72, then revised it to $3.69. This motion won four votes: Turner, Sawyer, Whaley, Milton. It takes 7 votes to pass, so the amendment failed.”
However, that’s not where it ended. Mr. Wright continued saying, “Commissioner Ford moved to adopt the flat, certified rate of $3.45. This motion won eight votes: Billingsley, Whaley, Wright, Bradford, Ford, Mills, Morrison and Jones. This motion passed. But then Commissioner Lowery moved to amend this up a penny to $3.46 to fund ‘youth and adult mental health.’ After some procedural wrangling, this motion won 7 votes: Turner, Sawyer, Whaley, Milton, Brooks, Lowery and Jones. The resolution as amended passed 7-5-1, with all Republicans voting no and Commissioner Ford abstaining.”
Since the tax rate for Shelby County is changing, it will require another vote at the next Shelby County Commission meeting.
The Lakeland Property tax rate is currently $1.24 but the new Lakeland certified tax rate of $1.04 is expected to be adopted this Thursday at the Lakeland Board of Commissioner’s meeting. That would mean what residents pay for Lakeland property taxes will not change but since the majority of property taxes are Shelby county taxes a slight increase can be expected.
