Why does Miss Emily refuse to pay taxes in A Rose for Emily?

Miss Emily refuses to pay taxes in "A Rose for Emily" because she believes that her family has been exempt from taxes since her father's death. She clings to the idea of her family's former status and refuses to acknowledge the changing times and laws that apply to everyone, regardless of their social standing. Her refusal is a way for her to assert control and maintain her sense of power and superiority in the face of encroaching modernity.