What is the primary purpose of the tax rate books released to County Treasurers?

The primary purpose of the tax rate books released to County Treasurers is to establish the tax rates for municipalities. These books contain the necessary information that municipalities need to determine how much tax revenue they can expect to collect based on assessed property values and the local budgetary needs.

The tax rate is essential for ensuring that property taxes are calculated correctly, enabling municipalities to fund services such as education, public safety, and infrastructure. By providing a standardized reference for local governments, tax rate books ensure consistency and transparency in the taxation process across different jurisdictions within the county.

While property tax exemptions are important and are documented elsewhere, they are not the focus of the tax rate books. Similarly, tax collection guidelines are generally provided in broader policy documents rather than in specific tax rate publications, and tax appeal decisions, while relevant to taxpayers and assessors, pertain more to disputes about property values than to the establishment of tax rates themselves.