Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward MageeNews.com a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
The Simpson County Board of Supervisors approved a 1.87-mill tax increase Tuesday, September 8, following a public hearing that brought residents before the Board to voice concerns about taxes, county spending, education and public safety.
The proposed FY 2026–2027 budget and tax levy hearing began at 8 a.m. Several citizens addressed the Board, with much of the discussion centered on whether additional tax revenue was necessary and how county funds should be prioritized.
Following the discussion, supervisors approved the 1.87-mill increase by a 3–2 vote.
Board President Wayne Womack and Supervisors Donny Welch and Charlie Westmorland voted in favor. Supervisors Danny Craft and Mitchell Chatman voted against the increase.
The Simpson County Board of Supervisors approved a tax increase Tuesday, September 8, following a public hearing that brought residents before the Board to voice concerns about taxes, county spending, education and public safety.
The proposed FY 2026–2027 budget and tax levy hearing began at 8 a.m. Several citizens addressed the Board, with much of the discussion centered on whether additional tax revenue was necessary and how county funds should be prioritized.
Following the discussion, supervisors approved the tax increase by a 3–2 vote.
Board President Wayne Womack and Supervisors Donny Welch and Charlie Westmorland voted in favor of the increase. Supervisors Danny Craft and Mitchell Chatman voted against it.
The amount of the millage increase is not included in this report pending confirmation from official county documents.
Citizens Address the Board
Stan Bulger, a Simpson County resident and former member of the Simpson County School Board, was among the first to speak.
Bulger stressed the importance of adequately supporting law enforcement and providing the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department with the equipment needed to protect citizens.
“Be proactive and fully fund the sheriff department,” Bulger told the Board.
Bulger also discussed the needs of the Simpson County School District, including aging facilities, and encouraged citizens to attend school board meetings and become more involved in decisions affecting public education.
Simpson County Superintendent of Education Dr. Robert Sanders also addressed the supervisors and spoke about the need for cooperation between county government and the school district.
“We are going to have to work together,” Sanders said.
Allen Floyd spoke several times during the hearing and voiced strong opposition to increasing taxes. Floyd questioned government spending and said taxpayers have a natural distrust of government.
“Do no harm,” Floyd told the Board.
Floyd pointed to the number of properties with delinquent taxes in Simpson County and urged supervisors to protect essential services such as law enforcement, courts and bridges while carefully considering additional spending.
“We can’t keep taxing the people,” Floyd said.
He also questioned the Board’s 8 a.m. meeting time, saying it makes it difficult for many working citizens to attend.
Another resident, Mrs. Mosely, spoke against the increase, saying taxpayers are “breaking our backs with taxes.” She urged county officials to examine spending carefully, department by department.
“Don’t look at the whole picture, look at one area at a time,” she said, adding, “Allow us to have a voice.”
Thomas Ray Floyd also opposed the increase and questioned the pattern of what he described as small increases over time.
“Year after year we hear small tax increase,” Floyd said.
He urged county government to “learn to take care of what we have” and called for less government spending.
“Quit raising our taxes,” he said.
During the public comments, a citizen also asked supervisors whether they would be willing to make a sacrifice by reducing their own salaries.
Supervisors Discuss the Decision
The supervisors also addressed the concerns raised during the hearing.
Womack reminded those attending that members of the Board are affected by taxes as well.
“We are taxpayers also,” Womack said.
Craft made clear that he did not support the proposed increase.
“Not one person in my district approves a tax raise,” Craft said.
Chatman also opposed the proposal. He said he believed the Board had done its due diligence and acknowledged the difficulty of making budget decisions.
“No one wants to raise taxes,” Chatman said.
“We’ve got to make do,” he added.
After the public hearing and discussion, the Board proceeded with the required budget and tax levy actions. With Womack, Welch and Westmorland voting in favor and Craft and Chatman voting against, the measure passed 3–2.
MageeNews will attach video from the public hearing so citizens can hear the discussion and comments in their entirety.
MageeNews.com is the source of news and views for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi
