City and town councils may levy general property taxes of up to five mills on the dollar (Ark. Const. art. 12 § 4; A.C.A. §§ 26-25-102 and 103). In order to implement this millage, the governing body of the city or town must certify the rate of taxation levied to the county clerk. (A.C.A. § 26-73-202). This must be done prior to the time fixed by law for the Quorum Court to levy county taxes. Id. A.C.A. § 14-14-904(b) establishes the November or December meeting of the Quorum Court as the time to levy those taxes. Accordingly, municipal officials should check with the Quorum Court to determine whether its levying meeting will be in November or December. It is important also to bear in mind that the city council must levy and certify its taxes annually, as failure to levy by the required date will result in a millage of zero for the following year (See Ark. Ops. Atty. Gen. No. 91-044 and 85-5).

The bottom line: If your city or town wishes to collect property taxes for the following year, make sure that council approval and certification to the county clerk occur prior to the meeting of the Quorum Court at which county taxes are levied.