Special School Districts

Notwithstanding the provisions of the general law or a private act to the contrary which creates a special school district, upon a general reappraisal of property as determined by the State Board of Equalization, the tax rate as established in any general law or private act must be adjusted to provide the same ad valorem revenue for the special school district as was levied during the previous year prior to the general reappraisal. The county assessor of property must certify to the appropriate county trustee the total assessed value of taxable property within the jurisdiction of the special school district. The assessor must also furnish the county trustee an estimate of the total assessed value of all new construction and improvements not included on the previous assessment roll and the assessed value of deletions from the previous assessment roll.¹

In the event of a general reappraisal as determined by the State Board of Equalization, the county trustee must determine and certify the adjusted tax rate exclusive of such new construction, improvements and deletions. For the purpose of calculating the adjusted rate, the county trustee must use the taxable value appearing on the roll exclusive of taxable value of properties appearing for the first time on the assessment roll. The procedure or formula for calculating the certified adjusted tax rate must be in accordance with policies as established by the state board of equalization pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-1701(b). A levy of tax found to be based on an erroneous calculation may be revised prior to tax billing on certification of a revised calculation by the state board of equalization accepted by act or resolution of the board of education of the special school district without further notice. If the error is certified after tax billing, the revised rate shall take effect as of the next general ad valorem levy for the special school district.²

The county trustee must certify the adjusted tax rate to the school board of the special school district within a reasonable time following the general reappraisal, and in addition, must post the  adjusted tax rate at each school within the special school district, at the appropriate courthouse, and at one other public building within the appropriate county.³ If additional revenue is required in a special school district following the general reappraisal and the adjustment to the tax rate, the General Assembly must by general law or private act set the tax rate for the special school district at a level to generate the ad valorem revenue necessary for the special school district. Before the board of education of the special school district requests legislation to exceed the certified rate, it shall first publish notice of its intent to exceed the certified rate in the manner required of cities and counties pursuant to 67-5-1702.⁴