Several public entities are preparing to hold public hearings with regard to tax rates.

The Board of Directors for the Howard County 911 service will hold a public hearing on August 11 to discuss the renewal of a sales tax. The 0.625% sales tax funds the 911 service.

The required hearing begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11 at the Keller Building in Fayette. The hearing is open and the public is invited. 

Following the hearing, the board is expected to vote in favor of continuing the tax for another year.

The Fayette R-III School District will hold a hearing at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18 at the high school library. 

Citizens may be heard on the property tax rates proposed by the district.  

The tax rates are set to produce revenues required from the property tax as shown in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021. 

The district proposes to keep the same total levy of $4.9962 per $100 of assessed valuation, which is expected to generate $2,960,071 in revenue, up $140,429 from last year.

The New Franklin R-I School District will hold its tax levy hearing at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18. 

The district will propose to keep the total levy at $5.2496, the same as that of a year ago.

The Higbee R-VIII School District will hold a tax rate hearing at 5:45 p.m. on August 12. The district proposes to keep the tax rate of $5.0500 the same as that of a year ago.

The Howard County Fire Protection District will hold its annual tax rate hearing at 4 p.m. on Monday, August 16, at the fire station in Fayette. 

On Thursday, August 12, at 6 p.m., the Howard County Ambulance District will hold a public hearing at the ambulance building. The district will keep the tax rate steady at $0.3000 per $100 of assessed valuation. The tax is expected to result in $420,419 in revenue.