Montgomery County board sets multiple 2024 tax rates, discusses county'wide cannabis ban ordinance

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners met in special session Sept. 3 and moved to set or certify several local tax rates for 2024 while noting a previously approved first reading of an ordinance that would prohibit medical cannabis businesses in county limits.

The Chair opened the meeting and said the board had two items in second reading: the county's annual budget and appropriations ordinance to set the 2024 tax rate, and a separate ordinance aimed at prohibiting medical cannabis businesses in Montgomery County. The Chair said last year's real-property rate had been 6.6 and that adopting the compensating rate would lower that to about 6.04 this year.

Commissioner Daniel Carmichael moved "to accept" the proposed tax rates; the motion was raised during discussion of the county's compensating rate. The transcript records the motion and follow-on procedural activity but does not record a roll-call tally for the county's tax-rate ordinance in the excerpt provided.

Separate affected entities presented or had their certified rates recorded. A library representative reported the public library had certified compensating rates for 2024, recorded by the board as "8¢ for real property, 8.53 for personal property, and $8.03 for vehicles." The board took a motion to approve the library's certified rates.

The Montgomery County Fire and Ambulance District's 2024 rate was reported in the meeting as roughly 10¢ for the fire-protection district across property and vehicle classifications. The Extension Office presented its rates; a motion by Carmichael to approve those rates was seconded during the meeting although a detailed tally was not included in the transcript.

When the Montgomery County Health Department presented its 2024 tax-rate certification, the board moved, seconded and approved the health department rates on a voice vote; the Chair announced, "Motion carries." No individual vote tallies were recorded in the excerpt.

On the medical-cannabis item, the Chair noted that the first reading had been approved Aug. 6; the transcript does not record a second-reading vote or final outcome for that ordinance in this excerpt.

The special meeting was adjourned after the routine tax-rate business. The board later indicated it would go into an executive session to discuss a potential property sale.

What happens next: The board confirmed upcoming meeting dates and will proceed with any required second-reading procedures, public notices or additional votes for ordinances still pending final action.