While the County Assessor determines the value of the property for tax purposes, the local taxing authorities (County, City, School District, Fire District, Water and Sanitation Districts, etc.) decide how much money is required to provide services and establish the millage rate.
Three major phases of the real property taxation process:
1. Real Property appraisal and assessment (County Assessor)
2. Budget and tax levy (School Board, Commissioners, and other taxing authorities)
3. Tax billing and collection (Tax Collector)
The County Assessor is involved in the first phase as described below:
- The Budget divided by taxable portion of assessed value = Tax Rate
(the budget is determined by the School Board, Commissioners, and other taxing authorities)
- The County Assessor determines assessed value.
- Tax Rate multiplied by the taxable portion of assessed value = Tax Bill
The County Assessor is not the Tax Collector and the County Assessor has nothing to do with the total amount of taxes collected. However, as a property owner, you are not only interested in what value the County Assessor places on your property, but in the way the amount of taxes you pay is determined.