MS HB477

Amends Section 27-39-203 of Mississippi Code to revise public budget hearing procedures for taxing entities, effective July 1, 2017.

Requires advertisements to be at least one-fourth page with 18-point minimum type, surrounded by a one-fourth-inch solid black border, and placed outside classified sections; must run once weekly for two weeks before budget adoption.

Allows municipalities with populations under 1,500 with no tax levy increase to advertise hearings by posting notices in three public places instead of newspaper publication.

Requires taxing entities to notify county or municipal governing bodies of hearing dates and times; prohibits scheduling hearings simultaneously with overlapping taxing entities in the same county but permits consolidation of hearings.

Allows governing bodies to adopt tax rate resolutions immediately after public hearings or defer adoption to next regular meeting without additional notice, provided the governing body announces the scheduled date, time, and place during the hearing.