“The Auditor’s office calculates certified tax rates for all entities in the county that levy property taxes. The certified tax rate is the base rate that an entity can levy without raising taxes. In other words, it is the rate that will produce the same amount of revenue that the entity budgeted the year before. If an entity wishes to increase the rate, the Auditor ensures that the entity follows the truth-in-tax laws to notify the public and hold the required hearings.”

So the budgeted revenue requirement is set first, and then the rate is set to produce that revenue without increasing taxes, regardless of what property values do. In order for the actual tax bill to go up, the government has to follow the process for raising taxes.