The taxes to be levied by Union County on real and personal property owned by residents in 2022 won't be any higher or lower than they were in 2021, per an ordinance passed by the county Quorum Court earlier this month.
Before the Quorum Court can pass the yearly tax levy, each municipality within the county must first pass resolutions of their own dictating what the local property taxes will be within city limits.
This year, there were no changes to any city or county taxes. A campaign to increase the library millage from 0.4 mills to 1 mill in Union County failed with less than 30% of the vote earlier this month.
The taxes levied by Union County include a 0.4 mill library tax; a 3.0 mill road tax; and a 4.0 general fund tax. Additionally, in 1992, Union County voters approved a 0.5 mill tax for support and/or capital outlay for South Arkansas Community College.
According to the county ordinance, the taxes to be levied in each of Union County's municipalities are as follows:
- In Huttig, 5.0 mills toward the general fund and 0.8 mills toward the firemen's retirement and pension fund; 5.8 mills total
- In Junction City, 4.6 mills toward the general fund and 0.4 mills toward the firemen's retirement and pension fund; 5.0 mills total
- In Strong, 5.0 mills toward the general fund and 0.4 mills toward the firemen's retirement and pension fund; 5.4 mills total
- In Calion, 5.0 mills toward the general fund and 1.0 mills toward the firemen's retirement and pension fund; 6.0 mills total
- In Norphlet, 5.0 mills toward the general fund and 0.3 mills toward the firemen's retirement and pension fund
- In El Dorado, 2.4 mills toward the general fund, 1.0 mills toward the public library, 1.0 mills toward the firemen's pension fund and 1.0 mills toward the police pension fund; 5.4 mills total
- In Smackover, 5.0 mills toward the general fund; 5.0 mills total
- In Felsenthal, 5.0 mills toward the general fund; 5.0 mills total
Real property is defined as land and improvements -- like structures such as a home or barn -- that have been made upon it. The state Constitution does provide for some exemptions on taxation on personal property, like household appliances, furniture and clothing. Vehicles and livestock are taxed as personal property in Arkansas, however.
Local millage rates determine how much per $1,000 of assessed value of their taxable real or personal property one will pay in taxes. Property assessments are generally based on local property values.
Also included in the levying ordinance passed this month were local school mills. They, too, remained unchanged from 2019. They are as follows:
- For the El Dorado School District, 26.9 mills for maintenance and operations and 6.6 mills for debt services; 33.5 mills total
- For the Parkers Chapel School District, 25.0 mills for maintenance and operations and 14.8 mills for debt services; 39.8 mills total
- For the Smackover-Norphlet School District, 25.0 mills for maintenance and operations and 16.0 mills for debt services; 41.0 mills total
- For the Junction City School District, 25.0 mills for maintenance and operations and 15.9 mills for debt services; 40.9 mills total
- For the Strong-Huttig School District, 25.7 mills for maintenance and operations and 13.3 mills for debt services; 39 mills total
Starting in January, Union County Tax Collector Karen Scott will turn over collected taxes to County Treasurer Jody Cunningham each month, with information about where each dollar collected belongs. The funds are then dispersed to the institution -- the school district, city, SouthArk or Union County Public Library System -- they're meant for.