Opinion ID: 1564070
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: Factor 13: Whether an estimated tax base of the PIA will support incorporation.

Text: ¶ 60. Jackson argues that it cannot determine whether a sufficient tax base exists because BI has failed to provide a specific plan for services. BI asserts that its experts applied a range of tax levies comparable to other Mississippi municipalities and found the tax base sufficient to support incorporation. ¶ 61. The chancellor relied on expert testimony to conclude that the estimated tax base of the PIA supports incorporation. Gary L. Walker, Certified Public Accountant and CPA for the City of Richland, testified on behalf of BI. Walker testified that the assessed values in the PIA as of May 2002 were: $59,997,870 for realty; $5,137,235 for personal property; $20,675,084 for motor vehicles; and $4,772,537 for public utilities. The total assessed value in the PIA was $90,582,726. The chancellor aptly noted that the assessed values are lower in the revised PIA; however, expert testimony established that a revised PIA will only strengthen the financial posture of an incorporated Byram. This Court finds substantial evidence supports the chancellor's findings that the tax base of the revised PIA is more than adequate to support incorporation.