Property Tax Assessment Town Hall Meeting Summary

The following is a summary of the Town Hall Meeting regarding the recent property assessments for Tift County, based on the Facebook live stream that began at 10 AM on July 13, 2024.

Summary

The City Council meeting focused on property taxes and reassessments, emphasizing transparency and community engagement. The Mayor thanked the YMCA and Tift Regional Medical Center for hosting, noting the importance of sharing information that officials have, even though the Council doesn’t vote on property taxes. Hayward Becton, the Tift County Chief Appraiser, explained that the reassessments were mandated due to property value ratios falling below state requirements. This process affected about 19,350 parcels and was necessary to comply with state regulations.

Attendees were informed about the decorum for the Q&A session, the appeal process for property assessments, and encouraged to voice concerns. Key issues included rising property values and tax burdens, with residents sharing personal experiences of significant increases in their assessments. The Mayor and officials discussed the differences between assessments and appraisals, the impact of millage rates, and the role of local option sales taxes (LOST) and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes (SPLOST) in mitigating property tax burdens.

Residents raised concerns about the reassessment process, the adequacy of the assessment company, and the implications of new state tax laws. The community was urged to appeal assessments if they felt inaccurate and to engage with local representatives regarding legislative issues. The meeting highlighted frustrations with communication and the assessment process while stressing the need for accountability from local officials. Overall, the session aimed to inform residents about their rights and the appeal process amidst rising property taxes.

Meeting Synopsis

Purpose: The session aimed to inform the community about property taxes, emphasizing transparency, even though the City Council does not vote on tax matters. The Mayor thanked the YMCA and Tift Regional Medical Center for hosting the meeting.

Focus: The meeting centered on property tax reassessments, not addressing other issues like potholes. Key officials, including the city attorney and clerk, were present to assist.

Reassessment Overview

• Chief Appraiser Hayward Becton explained that reassessments were mandated due to the county’s property value ratios falling below state requirements. A total of approximately 19,350 parcels were revalued.
• Residents were encouraged to appeal assessments and were reminded of the process for any specific issues.

Resident Concerns

• Questions raised included the assessment formula, discrepancies between assessed and market values, and the fairness of property evaluations.
• The Mayor highlighted the difference between “assessment” and “appraisal,” noting that assessments are based on mass appraisal methods.

Millage Rate and Tax Implications

• Concerns were voiced about sudden assessment increases and their financial impact on residents, with some reporting significant increases in property values and taxes.
• The discussion included the relationship between property assessments, millage rates, and tax bills.

Tax Relief Measures

• The Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) has helped reduce property taxes, while the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds additional projects without burdening property taxes.
• Historical data showed millage rate reductions as a positive outcome of community support for LOST.

Legislative Engagement

• Residents were urged to contact legislators about property assessments and related laws, including House Bill 581, which proposes capping assessment increases at 3%.

Community Involvement and Accountability

• Concerns about the assessment company’s performance and the need for transparency were raised.
• The meeting concluded with calls for residents to appeal assessments, hold officials accountable for rolling back millage rates, and stay engaged with local government processes.

Final Recommendations

• Residents were encouraged to file for homestead exemptions for tax relief and to actively participate in the appeals process to address their concerns regarding rising property taxes.

Editor’s Notes

The main questions that were on everyone’s minds included (I’m sure there are many more):

1. Why was a third-party vendor used to conduct the assessment?
2. If the trend indicated that the county would fall outside the state-mandated threshold, why wasn’t the assessment conducted earlier to phase it in and avoid the sticker shock everyone experienced? (I suspect the reason is cost, as conducting a full property assessment annually would be prohibitively expensive.)
3. Why is there a discrepancy between the appraised (and sale) value of a property and the market value shown on the assessment?
4. Is there a better way to handle this process?