FAQs: Millage Rates
Real Estate and Personal Property taxes are the primary funding mechanism for our public schools. Each year, school administrators determine their budgets using the assessment values and last years tax collections. A quality education is necessary for the growth of our county. An educated workforce is a key pathway to economic success. Currently, there are 10 school districts in the county. Approximately 76.3% of the average tax bill that we collect, is paid to our local schools. That is an average of $.76 of every dollar the taxpayer pays in county taxes goes directly to fund our school's operations and teacher salaries.
Most of the time, the taxpayer has added a vehicle, boat, motor, RV, or trailer to his/her last assessment, and this always results in higher personal property taxes. Maybe a newer vehicle was purchased and that caused an increase in your assessment value causing higher personal property taxes. You need to call the assessor and ask about your assessment, 501-303-5622.
If the value and/or the millage has increased since the prior year, the current tax bill will be higher. Tax is calculated by multiplying the effective value times the millage.
With questions about the amount of your tax bill, always call the assessor's office (501-303-5622). Ask for a copy of your last two assessments. That information will verify why your personal property taxes are higher than last year.
Read Amendment 79 Here.
Amendment 79 does place a freeze on REAL ESTATE Property, but only on the assessed value and not on the millage. If the millage is voted on and passed by the PEOPLE, ALL the REAL ESTATE Tax bill increase in that school district. For more information, call the assessor at 501-303-5622.
Also, if you make substantial improvements to your property (a swimming pool, additional square footage, etc.) your taxes will go up. The assessor needs to be notified when your age is 65 for the freeze to take effect.
How Are My Personal Property Taxes Calculated?
Saline County residents are required to give a declaration of personal property by contacting the Saline County Assessor between January 1st to May 31st every year. Failure to do so will result in a 10% assessment penalty of the total assessment.
Your ad valorem (Latin for "according to value") general taxes are billed one year behind and are calculated by multiplying the "taxable value" (20% of the appraisal value established by the Assessor) times the millage rate (a mill is 1/10th of a penny). You can view the current millage rates under the "Tax Info" tab.
Personal Property (Arkansas Code 261101)
What is personal property? As with real property (real estate), personal property is subject to ownership and is tangible. Personal property, however, is movable and may be either animate or inanimate. Basically, personal property is everything that is subject to ownership, tangible and movable, excluding money.
Examples of taxable personal property include:
Cars
Boats
Livestock
Motorcycles
Recreational vehicles
The Assessor establishes the value of your property. The Collector does not assess property, for assessment information go to the Assessor’s Website, or call 501-303-5620.
See Amendment 79
26-23-204. Tax bill information.
In order to assist property taxpayers to better understand their property tax bills, the following information shall be included on each tax bill sent by the county collector:
(1) The dollar amount of the taxpayer's total tax bill distributed to each taxing unit in the county where the taxpayer's property is taxed;
(2) The millage rate (a mill is 1/10 of a cent) levied by each taxing unit used to determine the tax distribution to each taxing unit and the percentage of the full value of the taxpayer's property that each millage rate levy represents;
(3) The percentage of the full value of the property shall be calculated by multiplying the legal assessment level by the appropriate millage rate levy; and
(4) The sum of the millage rates levied by each taxing unit, the percentage of the full value of the taxpayer's property that the sum of the millage rate levies represents, and the total dollar amount due and billed.
If the value and/or the millage have increased since the prior year, the current tax bill will be higher. Tax is calculated by multiplying the effective value times the millage.