BROOKHAVEN — Readers living in Lincoln County asked where their property taxes go. Some citizens have the impression that the taxes they pay all goes towards the maintenance of roads. 

Lincoln County Administrator Daniel Calcote presented a breakdown of where exactly taxes go to the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors Wednesday morning. The breakdown is an estimate of where Lincoln County Property Taxes are budgeted to be spent.

It should be noted that many departments and organizations receive additional funding through other fees, fines, state and federal grants and government agencies. 

Lincoln County School District actually receives the highest share of tax funding with 22.91 percent of property taxes budgeted to the district. Roads and Bridge Maintenance are not far behind with 20.31 percent of property taxes budgeted to the road and bridge fund. 

According to the breakdown, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office receives 8.15 percent of the property taxes budgeted in the county. Co-Lin Community College receives 7.22 percent. 

General Administrative costs for insurance, legal fees and human resources are budgeted 6.66 percent of property taxes raised. The Court System receives 5.63 percent. 

Lincoln County Jail receives 5.14 percent of the total property taxes raised. 

Tax Collector/Asserors Office receives 4.41 percent and Maintenance of buildings and grounds receives 1.68 percent. Informative Technology receives 1.68 percent of the property taxes collected. Debt on road and bridge projects receive 1.6 percent of the taxes collected. 

Lincoln County Civic Center receives 1.46 percent of property tax funds raised. E-911 Dispatchers receive 1.38 percent. 

Debt on industrial park development receives 1.36 percent. The Lincoln County Public Library receives 1.34 percent. Circuit Clerk’s Office receives 1.14 percent of property taxes collected. 

Elections receive 0.89 percent of taxes collected, public defenders receive 0.86 percent and Chancery Clerk’s office receives 0.85 percent. 

Emergency Management receives 0.82 percent of property taxes collected. Debt on the baseball park receives 0.78 percent of the property taxes. The Chamber of Commerce receives 0.70 percent of funds raised by property taxes. 

Volunteer Fire Departments receive 0.62 percent of property taxes collected and that is split by eight different departments in Lincoln County. The Coroner’s Office receives 0.56 percent of taxes. 

Constables receive 0.55 percent of property taxes collected, Mississippi State Extension Service receives 0.23 percent, Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District receives 0.21 percent. 

Soil Conservation (NRCS) receives 0.17 percent of property taxes collected, Region 8 Mental Health Services receive 0.16 percent, District Attorney receives 0.14 percent, Lincoln County Health Department receives 0.11 percent. 

Lincoln County Department of Human Services Office receives 0.10 percent of property taxes collected. Brookhaven-Lincoln County Airport receives 0.06 percent. Veterans Services Officer receives 0.05 percent. 

Southwest Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center receives 0.04 percent and USDA Beaver Control Program receives 0.02 percent of property taxes collected.