Madison County collected more than $343.5 million in property taxes for 2022, according to tax collector Valerie Miles.

That’s almost $50 million more than her department collected a year ago, she said in her report to the Madison County Commission on Wednesday.

“Our county is blessed and growing,” Miles told the commissioners. “Businesses coming in. Businesses going out. New neighborhoods. It’s a lot to keep up with.”

Of the money collected, almost $170 million will go to county schools, $61.3 million for roads and bridges and more than $3 million to county volunteer fire departments.

“Those are outstanding numbers,” Commissioner Phil Vandiver said. Vandiver said two numbers stood out to him: Fire departments will receive about $500,000 more than a year ago, and schools almost $5 million more.

“That’s very much needed for our guys and ladies who work extremely hard with our volunteer fire departments,” he said.