‘Tis the season for setting tax rates, not only for local governments but the various taxing districts in the county as well.

The City of Albany and Clinton County Fiscal Court have already voted and set their tax rates for 2015, with fiscal court approving a few of the taxing district’s rates at the most recent meeting held last week.

Most entities, including the city and county, kept tax rates the same as the previous year. However, a couple of taxing districts have proposed rate increases above last year’s amounts, and when this occurs, by law, those bodies are required to conduct a public hearing to take public comment on the proposed new rates.

Two taxing districts, the Clinton County Library Board and Clinton County Board of Education, both opted to increase rates over last year and each published notices of a public hearing, as required by law.

On Monday morning of this week, August 24, the Library Board of Trustees conducted its hearing on the proposed new rates and, with no opposition, approved the rate at 3.7 cents per $100 assessed value on real property, up from 3.4 cents.

The new rate is anticipated to generate $141,443.00 in revenue, compared to the anticipated $129,789.00 under last year’s rate.

The board noted in a recent public notice of the hearing that the extra revenue was needed for new materials, computers and program supplies.

Under the new rate, for example, the tax amount on $4,000 worth of property last year took in $1.36 with the new rate projected at the same amount to be $1.48, or 12 cents more per year. ($1.20 if figured on $40,000 of property.)

Results of a 2013-14 fiscal year comparison of county libraries in the area, Clinton County was the lowest in total operating revenue of three other surrounding counties of Wayne, Cumberland and Adair, even being $107,000 less than neighboring Cumberland County, which had operating revenue of $282,364 compared to Clinton’s $175,504. However, Clinton County had a much higher total book circulation, material circulation, audio and video circulation and attendance for children’s programs.

Clinton County Board of Education, which is proposing a tax rate of 42.2 cents per $100 of assessed value, up from 40.6 the previous year, will conduct its public hearing to take public comments next Thursday, September 3 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office board room.

The proposed new rate, if approved, is expected to generate a little over $142,000 in additional revenue for the school system, money most board members feel is critical to keep the district fully staffed and provide adequate services to students.