NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors will not be raising taxes for the upcoming fiscal year.

County Administrator Joe Murray told the board Monday that despite a drop in the public utilities assessment for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, he doesn’t believe a tax increase is necessary.

A public utilities assessment is conducted by the Mississippi Department of Revenue, Murray said, and determines how much taxes utility companies such as AT&T, Entergy and Atmos pay.

A lower assessment, Murray said, means the companies pay less in taxes, affecting revenue for the city, county and school district.

The assessments from the 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 fiscal years dropped approximately $1.6 million, Murray said.

A large part of that, Murray said, is because Entergy took a plant it had on Steam Plant Road and a substation off the tax roll because those locations are no longer in service.

In other news from the meeting:

• The board voted to hire Ashley Perry as a full-time assistant to Information Technology Director Lance Bishop.

Perry’s main duties will include the implementation of new E-911 software. The E-911 board has therefore agreed to pay for half of Perry’s $25,000 salary, Murray said.

Bishop said Perry will also be valuable in launching the county’s new website since Perry has website development experience.

The county has made great strides in updating its technology, Bishop said, and, consequently, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office has indicated it wants to integrate itself into the county’s technology.

The ACSO, Bishop said, updated its technology and website before the county. But because the county is now making an effort to upgrade its technology, Sheriff Chuck Mayfield told Bishop the ACSO would like to join the county’s Internet network and be a part of its website, Bishop said.

Doing both of those things, Bishop said, will save the county money but double his workload.

Once Perry completes the implementation of the E-911 software, his job might shift toward handling the sheriff’s office’s IT needs, Bishop said.

Supervisor Mike Lazarus questioned whether the savings the county would see in taking on the ACSO’s IT needs would go to the sheriff’s office or back to the county.

• Murray reported to the board that Circuit Court Judge Forrest “Al” Johnson received a letter from the Administrative Office of the Courts allowing him to give raises to a secretary and a law clerk. Johnson will be giving the raises to the employees, which will amount to an additional combined $4,000 annually, Murray said.

• The board renewed its franchise agreement with Cable ONE.

• The board voted to advertise for logging companies to clear trees at the International Paper Co. site.

• The board met in executive session to discuss two matters related to litigation and the job performance of a solid waste enforcement officer. No action was taken during the session, Supervisor President Darryl Grennell said.