Analysis of Warren County land rolls began today amid forecasts of lower tax revenue generated from property values.

Tax Assessor Richard Holland’s figures Monday backed up predictions of a hiccup in land values that had increased at a steady 3.5 percent annually or better for five years.

True values rose from $3,156,404,888 in 2007 to $3,172,226,834 in 2008, a jump of .5 percent from last year.

“By far, this is the lowest year we’ve had,” Holland said.

Supervisors and trustees of the Vicksburg Warren School District have relief on the added value of taxable property to provide more money each year without increasing rates of taxation. The City of Vicksburg also used the county-set valuations and has not raised tax rates, instead allowing property inflation to fatten budgets. The new budget year for the city and county starts Oct. 1, and while the school budget year started July 1, supervisors will not set the tax rate for the schools’ request until September.

As the process continues, checks for consistency between value and assessments on all county land is expected to be done by Friday. Owners of about 1,600 parcels received notices of an increase of $5,000 or more have a week thereafter to respond to the mailers. From there, the public has 30 days to view their property status and file a written challenge if they object. The notices are new. Previously owners could check at the courthouse, but otherwise did not learn their valuations had been increased until tax bills were mailed each December.

In Warren County, real and personal property, as well as agricultural land, in Mississippi is reappraised at least once every four years. To achieve this, about 25 percent or 25,650 parcels are re-evaluated each year.

This year’s lower growth resulted from diminished value of agricultural lands, Holland said, areas reappraised according to capitalization rates set by the state Tax Commission.

It uses a 10-year moving average of improvement and productivity. Holland said many rents were down and expenses up on many such parcels.

High-end commercial development was down during the past year, but supervisors are hopeful about the possibility of six new hotels in Vicksburg by 2010.

“I think we’ll be all right with these hotels coming on by then,” District 1 Supervisor David McDonald said.

Hotels include a Courtyard by Marriott, Comfort Inn and a La Quinta Inn and Suites just off East Clay Street, a Candlewood Suites and an unnamed hotel behind the unfinished Cypress Centre Marketplace on South Frontage Road and the Riverwalk Casino hotel.

A seventh, the Wingate by Windham, is part of Cypress Centre and would pay less property tax than the others because of its Tax Increment Financing. Under the terms, the county will pledge 50 percent of the increased real property taxes it would collect on the improved land to repay about $1.1 million. In agreements finalized Monday, city participation will entail pledging all its real property increases and being the main collector of the bonds to pay for road construction and drainage functions.

Land roll figures are preliminary and subject to change because of tax exemptions and abatements typically granted to some large businesses, such as those in historic districts, but remain a component in measuring the housing market. Local home foreclosures were up slightly during the first part of the year, but stayed inside recent historic trends.

Applications for homestead exemptions thus far stand at 11,416 – 57 more than last year.

If millage rates remain the same, tax revenues generated by the slight rise are likely to be below $1 million.

On homestead property, parcels are assessed at 10 percent of the true value. On all other property, including commercial, agricultural and rental, it is assessed at 15 percent. Tax bills result from multiplying that figure by separate millage rates for city, county and school taxes. Currently, rates are 37.74 mills for Warren County, 35.88 mills for Vicksburg and 46.2 mills for the school district.

Thompson Lake Road request on hold for now

Supervisors took under advisement a request to abandon more of Thompson Lake Road.

Earlier this year, Warren County gave up more than a half-mile to comply with a few residents along the north Warren County finger lake who desired self-maintenance of the roadway. A letter from two landowners asked for an additional 140 feet so a turnaround can be built.

The board was poised to pass the matter with little debate, but a substitute motion by District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon to allow further study passed 4-1 with McDonald dissenting.

“It’s in his (District 2 Supervisor William Banks’) district. He should take the lead on this,” Selmon said.

Banks said the agreement occurred without enough willingness from both parties.

Road workers to carry ID badges for safety

Warren County Road Department employees will carry name badges for identification purposes, as part of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program administered by the Transportation Safety Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Supervisors OK’d the county’s participation in the effort, which will cost the county $10,865 – or, $132.50 per employee in the 82-person department.

The program is geared primarily to identify workers with unescorted access to maritime transportation outlets and U.S.Coast Guard-credentialed mariners. All such workers must have such an ID by April 2009 as part of multiple federal anti-terrorism laws passed in 2002. Identification centers began opening in 2007. One opened in February at Ergon Marine at the Port of Vicksburg.

To obtain a “TWIC,” an individual must provide fingerprints, sit for a digital photograph and successfully pass a security threat assessment conducted by TSA.

On the agendaMeeting Monday, the Warren County Board of Supervisors:Approved the county’s participation in the 2008 Justice Assistance Grant program. An expected $18,586 will pay for updated equipment for the sheriff’s department.Accepted the resignation of Environmental Office clerk April Collins and authorized advertising for a replacement.Approved 7930 Jeff Davis Road as a possible site for a bus turnaround.Approved invoices of $30,086.85 to County Engineer John McKee and $3,925 to Board Attorney Paul Winfield.Approved a $60,000 allocation to the Parks and Recreation Commission.Approved an agreement with Motorola for county radio rebanding.Approved a $20,680.56 payment to Vicksburg Warren E-911 to cover the county’s share of dispatcher salaries.