2025 Tax Roll approval and TRIM preparation

Rebecca Morris-Haid

 Rebecca Morris-Haid, Jackson County Property Appraiser, submitted the Preliminary 2025 Tax Roll for Jackson County to the State for approval in July.  After meeting all the statutory requirements, the tax rolls were approved on July 30th.   This is a great accomplishment for our office.  I am very thankful and proud of my staff as this couldn’t have been completed by July 1st without their help in this process.

Successful submission of the Tax Roll enables the county municipalities, county governments and school system to establish the millage rates necessary for their budgets based on projected tax revenues. While property value is a component of the tax amount due, the Property Appraiser has no role in establishing millage (tax) rates or non-ad valorem assessment amounts. The property appraiser is responsible for reporting property values and administering property tax exemptions.

Overall, the county values have increased, based on the sales prices for 2024.  The 1995 “Save our Homes” amendment to the Florida Constitution ensures that the assessed value of a property with a homestead exemption cannot increase more than 3% or the percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the most widely used measure of consumer price changes as it measures the average change over time in the prices urban consumers pay for goods and services. The CPI for this year was reduce to 2.9%.

The next step in the process is for the Property Appraiser’s Office to prepare the “Truth In Millage” (TRIM’s).  This is an estimate only. This is NOT a bill. This notice is sent to all property owners. This year the TRIM notices will be mailed on August 22nd. Be sure to OPEN this and review for accuracy. 

This notice contains the property’s value as of January 1st, the millage rates proposed by each local government, and an estimate of the amount of property taxes the property owner owes based on the proposed millage rates. The date, time and location of each local government’s hearing is located in Column 4 across from each of the jurisdiction’s information.  This provides property owners the opportunity to attend the hearings and comment on the millage rates (proposed by the local governments). 

I always do my best to protect the people of Jackson County. Questions regarding millage (tax) rates should be directed to the taxing authorities at the contact listed on your TRIM notice. If you have questions about an exemption or your property value, please contact our office at (850) 482-9646.