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ZEBULON - The Board of Assessors met on July 16, 2024. Board members Christopher Tea, Parrish Swift, Lyn Smith, Gary Hammock, and Tim Ingram were present along with Chief Appraiser Greg Hobbs and Appraiser Emily Morris. County Attorney Rob Morton was present. Observers were Commissioner James Jenkins and Pike County Times Editor Becky Watts.
Call to Order
Approval of the Agenda
Motion to approve agenda. Approved 5-0.
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of the July 2, 2024 Minutes
Greg Hobbs. Minutes are not finished yet. That meeting was almost 3 hours, and there was an issue with people talking over each other. Christopher Tea. Asked about a program to convert the meeting from the recording to text so it will just need to be checked instead of completely written out.
Budget the same as it was at the last meeting.
2024 appeals
48 have been sent 30 day notice
60 active
1 resolved
3 have been waived
117 remaining of yesterday.
Question was asked comparing this year to last year. We had 1300 appeals last year at this time.
There will be more 2024 appeals at the next meeting. The people in the office are looking at the properties to be sure that everything is correct.
Discussion of catching errors. The value wasn’t supposed to change this year unless there was something on the property that the county didn’t have on the record. Some of the exemptions didn’t roll over like they were supposed to. If it isn’t caught before the bills go out, it can be corrected later.
Taxes are the same this year, but the rebate that the Governor gave to everyone last year for $425 isn’t included on the bill this year.
Old Business. None.
New Business
a. Approval/Denial of homestead exemption.
Applied in 2022. She is entitled for 2022,2023, and 2024. This has been applied on her file. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
b. Non-disclosure
This removes this property owner from Q public since she is law enforcement. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
c. Discussion of Georgia DOR Consent Order.
Motion to deny the consent order. 2nd was given. There was a lot of discussion on this topic.
Discussion: Tea. There is a lot in there that was are taking care of, etc. Swift. Says that we should pay the $50,000 penalty. What if we don’t comply, what is the penalty? A $50,000 penalty. I think we can manage our own problems. Tea. Talked about an issue with the state legislature about the 14 mills for the school board that needs to be resolved. The amount of excess taxes that the citizens will be paying is huge. Smith. We can start doing the 1/3 of the county each year. Tea. Some of the requirements… the audit says that our facilities are inadequate but the consent order mandates that the county give what is needed. Number of parcels 2500 for 1 appraiser. Smaller counties average about 1,500 parcels per person which needs 7 people, and we would likely fail. More discussion about the 14 mills for the school board. They should have had a variable in there but didn’t so there will always be a set limit at 14 mills. Concern about an excessive amount of taxes because the school can’t go below 14 mills or they will lose state funding.
Ingram. Are we going to be able to get out of this mess by doing this in-house? Discussion that we are not going to be able to meet the demands of the consent order and get fined $500 per day up to the $48,625 fine. Hobbs. If you sign it, you’re bound by it. Discussion. All we can do is make a recommendation. Audit says that even though we were low, we were equally low across the board with all properties so it was fair. Our goal is to be fair to the citizens of the county. But the Board of Commissioners has the final say.
Question to Attorney Morton. Y’all voted to authorize me to set the ball in motion. Asked for a Performance review. But the Consent Order is tied to the Penalty that we were given. We asked for a waiver and told them that we would be willing to abide by their wishes rather than paying the $50,000. $50,000 or under the state’s thumb? The county is on their radar now. Said that there will be an impact if we say no. You have the right to say no, but there will be repercussions. The DOR wants compliance to state law. They gave us a proposal to help us abide by state law. Where does the money come from and what will public perception be about this penalty? You have the right not to agree, but public perception is affected by this penalty. Are you going to explain that it is cheaper to pay the penalty to avoid an increase in taxes because it will require an increase in taxes to comply with the consent order? Said that Christopher did the math on this, and it’s a $5 penalty versus $250 in taxes. There could be consequences for not complying in the way that the DOR said that we need to. There is possible recourse. But the penalty would have to be paid within 30 days. Hobbs. There is no way to get this done by July 15 according to two companies that Hobbs spoke to today, and they said that the DOR knows that. Said that it appears that it would be an exercise in futility to sign a document that we asked for. They recommend that we hire an outside company, and the companies are saying that this can’t be done. There is no win here for anyone.
More discussion. Why would we sign a consent order that we know that we can’t comply with? The DOR may cut us a break if we are trying to meet their requirements. We still have to be within the percentile because that is what the law requires.
$500 a day and would not exceed the $50,000. If we are going to pay the penalty, and we are going to have to abide by the rules anyway… We are being told that this isn’t possible by July 15. The likelihood of being able to meet the consent order is very low. They are asking for new policies and procedures, and we don’t have an RFP on this too.
They asked for a recommendation from the attorney. It sounds like it would not make sense to agree to the consent order. $500 per working day not to exceed the penalty of $50,000. $48,645 is the actual total. Hammock. Said to raise the base prices on the schedules until the ratio is satisfied, and then they won’t have anything to say. Tea. We addressed this already this year. Hobbs confirmed that this cannot be adjusted again this year. It’s done.
#33. Pike contract with a vendor by the time that the 2025 digest goes through. Hobbs. The tax digest is due by July 15. We’ve never had this done by July 15. We can get this done by the first meeting in August this year. We can still do the work that is required. We can show that we are making a good faith effort to do this. If we sign it, we had better get someone in here immediately.
Tea. A walk around is required every three years.
Hobbs. Our job is to come up with the value. Tea. The millage rate issue is not treating the people fairly. There is an issue with the Board of Education and taxes that is an underlying issue here.
Need to modify the motion? No.
Ingram. If we can get the reports done quarterly, maybe they will say that we’re trying. Discussion: We still need to get some help. Morton. Clarification. All real property parcels must by “physically reviewed” once every three years. Hammock. Says it’s not a good policy to sign something that we can’t do.
More discussion. 36% to 44% will help evaluation. They want the whole thing done by July 15 of next year. We should know the ratio by the end of the month. We are doing walk arounds. Have to physically inspect every property every three years. We have just enough people now to start doing this, but we didn’t have enough people in 2021 and 2022. Swift. Still don’t agree with the consent order and expect the appraiser’s office to set a schedule and move forward. Our cards are dealt by fallacies in the past. That’s yesterday. We need to allow them to get the job done.
Tea. We could possibly argue for another person to help with this based on the fact that we are a small county. Hobbs. It takes 3 days out of 10 to deal with paperwork. Swift. We can take a lot out of the consent order like the need for staffing to help with the parcels. Smith. Has heard the county manager say that he is going to cut the staff… Discussion. Morton said that was in reference to hiring an outside vendor. Call to vote on the motion in favor of denying the consent order. 5-0.
Will meet with the commissioners on Thursday at 2 p.m.
d. Approval/Denial 12 corrections for homesteads.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
Real property.
Approval/Denial of 2023 Appeals with Fair Market Value Revisions.
a. None.
b. Approval/Denial of 2024 Appeals 14 with Fair Market Value Revisions. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
c. Approval/Denial of 2023 Waivers. 6 with FMVR
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
d. Approval/Denial of 2024 Waivers. 3 with FMVR
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
e. CUVAs.
These are in lieu of doing an appeal. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
f. CUVAs.
Some are living trusts which did not provide additional properties. Some were gated properties, and they couldn’t get on the property. A couple have some but not enough info. Recommend denial pending additional documentation. Motion to deny. Approved 5-0.
2. Personal property.
Car appeals.
a. Van purchased for $1900. State Value $3,275. Average price for 2006 since couldn’t find 2004 - $6300. Motion to go with state value of $3,275. Approved 5-0.
XI. Public Comment. None.
XII. Board Member Report.
Ingram. Can’t be here on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 11 a.m. but he could be here on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Sometimes may not be able to attend on 2nd and 4th. Swift. What about meeting at 9 a.m. instead of 11 a.m.? Discussion about a morning or night meeting. If it’s at 4 p.m. on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, I can be there. Discussion to leave everything the same at 11 a.m. on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Morton. He goes over things with Hobbs prior to meetings if he cannot attend a meeting.
Motion to adjourn. 5:16 p.m.
Here are links to past meetings that Pike County Times has attended.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - June 18, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor6.18.24.html
Board of Assessors Leaves Sales Ratio at $91 Per Square Foot
By Editor Becky Watts
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor6.3.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - May 21, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor5.21.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - March 7, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor3.7.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - February 6, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor2.6.24.html
Click here to read: "BREAKING NEWS: Commission Votes to Appeal Fine and Request a State Review of the Board of Assessors" http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSrequestforreview2.2.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 18, 2024 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.18.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 4, 2024 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.4.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - December 19, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor12.19.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - December 5, 2023 - 11:30 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor12.5.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - November 9, 2023 - 11:30 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.9.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 17, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor10.17.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 3, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor10.3.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - September 19, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor9.19.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - September 7, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor9.7.23.html