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Editor Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor(@)pikecountytimes.com
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Paper copy of all appeals that are being worked on at this time. Will be in a spreadsheet at the next meeting. Norman Appraisal employees are meeting with each individual who has appeal tax assessments for this year.
August 14, 2025 - 9 A.M.
ZEBULON - This meeting was rescheduled from Tuesday to Thursday. These meetings are open to the public and are usually held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at the EMA building located on the left as you turn into the Public Works driveway across from the Rec Fields.
Members in attendance include Parrish Swift, Lyn Smith, and Tim Ingram along with Chief Appraiser Greg Hobbs and Board Secretary Emily Morris.
Call to Order
Motion to amend the amended agenda. Approved.
Add H. S-5 for disabled veteran.
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of the Minutes
Motion to approve. Approved.
Public Comment
Becky Watts asked about how the next appraisals will go. Commercial will be rolling shortly. [Note from the Editor: Getting all of the properties in the county appraised at current values will help the home and property owners with our taxes. By law, the Pike County Tax Assessor's Office is required to reassess every parcel of land in the county at least once every 3 years. That means putting boots on the ground at every single piece of property. Scroll down to 9c. in this meeting to get more information about Norman Appraisals and what they are doing in our county as well as links to the article, "BREAKING NEWS: Board of Assessors Make Recommendation on the Department of Revenue's Consent Order with the County" as well as the Consent Order from the State Department of Revenue and another Board of Commissioner's meeting which address problems from the Tax Assessments of late in our county: www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BOC2.12.25.html. (Forgive me for not cutting and pasting here, but I spend hours putting these meetings together, and I'm trying to keep things neat and orderly.) The bottom line remains that boots were not put on the ground for the past 10 years on every single piece of property, but that is in the process of being corrected.]
Invited Guests: Joe Norman and Tom Williams from Norman Appraisal Service
All put into the system. These are ready to go into a spreadsheet. Anything 25% or more going to hold off. Under that, they will send the 30 day letter.
There is a grading schedule based on the home, size of the home, quality of the home, etc. Go by cost but also recognize market cost. If items are not on the notice this year like barns, etc. those will go on next year.
50 homes left to visit. Hope to knock it out in 3 full days for people who have appealed. Don’t know how to fix a problem before it goes to the Board of Equalization if people won’t allow Norman Appraisals on the property. But this will likely go back to the Board of Assessors from the Board of Equalization before a decision. They offer a copy of the law that allows them to go onto the property so people can be informed. They are NOT forcing their way onto the property. Almost everyone has been nice here in the county.
Will have a spreadsheet at the next meeting, and it should be their final.
Motion for consent to allow Norman Appraisers to send letters to any property appeals under 25%. Approved.
Board Member Report
None
Chief Appraiser Report
Eagle View has been uploaded to the QPUblic website. Will allow remote reviews with precision. Anyone can view the aerials. Gives public transparency and helps the tax assessor’s office too. 2025 appeals. 87 assessor change orders and 14 waivers will be signed today. A little over 200 appeals remains.
Sales ratio study for 2024. Public utilities. 37.33%. Below 38% which directly impacts our taxation and the funds that we get from the utilities in the county because they will be taxed at 37.33% instead of 40%. This is a direct consequence of the current assessments not aligning with values. Need to address value accuracy in the future. We will get public utilities at 37.33% when it could have been higher. We corrected this for 2025. This is a year backwards because it is 2024 which is how this works.
Old Business
None.
New Business
a. Discussion of the Tax Assessor Board to retain separate Counsel for representing board on all legal matters
This has been talked about. Need to find out what services are needed for the board. No disrespect to the current county attorney/county manager or the Board of Commissioners, but we need our own attorney. Need someone who doesn’t interact with the county. Smith and Ingram to bring information to a future meeting. What is the proper process on this? Consensus to get some prices. [Note from the Editor: The current County Attorney and County Manager is the attorney for this board, but they are wanting their own attorney just like the Planning and Zoning Committee asked not too long back.]
Motion for Lyn Smith to get pricing and information for legal services from several firms for review and consideration. Approved.
b. Discussion of compensation for board members compared to surrounding counties
Never did this for money, but we’re spending time twice a month walking through what needs to be done.
Upson meets twice a month. $5,800 annual. $240 a meeting. $6400 for chair. $260 a meeting.
Meriwether. $75 per meeting for all members including the chair.
Pike. $50 a meeting. $50 a day for training.
Lamar. $100 per meeting. Twice a month. $100 a day for training.
Spalding. Meet once a month. $150 a month. $200 for chair.
Discussion. What is an average? Need to be paid for duties involved. Want to be reasonable, but they read through a lot of information at each meeting. Commissioners decide the pay. The amount of money paid over the past however many years has been $50. Swift. It takes me about two days to read through everything in preparation for the next meeting. Want to increase the amount and review every 3 years. We’re at 1 hour and haven’t even started business.
Motion to present the comparison to the BOC for consideration for an increase in tax assessor board member pay. Approved.
c. Approval to send Intent to Breach on Vaughn
Going to send a 30 day letter. This has already been sold. $9,600 for the breach. The amount will be held out of closing. Motion to send intent to breach. Approved.
d. Board consideration for an appeal for Fifth Third Bank
Equipment financed in Pike for $22,929. They want to appeal the value, but it was after the July 14 deadline. Cannot accept this appeal. Motion to deny the appeal for Fifth Third Bank. Approved. [Note from the Editor: They are following the rules and treating everyone alike with this. Emphasis has been placed on making sure that they are doing this and not making a new precedent by changing someone for one person or entity.]
e. Approval/Denial change value to appraisal value per appeal Duncan.
They want $460,00 because got it from an appraiser. It was at $530,00. The Board of Equalization will go with that appraised value. Motion to change to appraised value of $460,000. Approved.
f. Approval/Denial homestead exemption SD disabled veteran 65 and older
Motion to approve. Approved.
g. Approval/Denial Tax Refund/Relief application Birath send to the Commissioners
Acreage correction. Motion to send to the commissioners.
h. Approval/Denial homestead exemption S5 Milewski disable veteran under 65
Motion to approve Milewski. Approved.
Bradfield added with amended agenda. (from the beginning of the meeting)
Motion to approve. Approved.
Real Property
a. 2005 property tax appeals recommended changes
Motion to approve 87 with the changes. This allows the letters to go out with changes from the beginning of the meeting. Approved.
b. 2025 appeal waivers 14 with fair market revisions
Motion to approve. Approved.
c. Approval/Denial 1 CUVA in lieu of an appeal Thomas
35 acres. Livestock. She filled out a form. Have to do something to have it in CUVA. If no livestock, then change the use. State of Georgia says that if you have a minimum of 10 acres. Why would the state train us on one thing and then we are forced to do another? Motion to postpone until the next meeting to verify CUVA use. Approved.
d. Approval/Denial 2 FLPA in lieu of an appeal
Timber growing is required. That has been verified. Motion to approve. Approved.
e. Approval of Assessor Change Orders
370+ appeals. 87 with change orders will get a new bills. Norman Appraisers working on some too. Department of Revenue has mandated this. Motion to approve. Approved.
Personal Property
a. Bostwick. 2008 Ford Econoline van
$2500 paid for it. State value is $5325. NADA 5850 is average price. Motion to leave it at $5325.
b. Rakestraw. 2014 Chevy C1500
161,000. Transmission is slipping. State $10,400. NADA $10,050. Paid $8000 for it. Motion to leave it at $10,400. Approved.
c. Rakestraw 2017
176,000. 4 wheel drive. State $11,825. NADA $11,385. Paid $500. Motion to leave it at $11,825. Approved.
d. Garner. 2009 Honda Civic Ex.
Emily had pics. State $4550. NADA $7000. Paint faded. Torn up inside. Windshield was busted. Paid $1800 for it. Got to be consistent. Motion to stay with $4550.
Motion to go into Executive Session. 10:28 a.m.
Back in session. 10:51 a.m.
Attorney Comment. Not present.
Motion to adjourn. 10:51 a.m.
Here are links to some of the past meetings that Pike County Times has attended. There are more that are slowly going online. Budget time and the county commission are my focus right now.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - May 13, 2025 - 9 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor5.13.25.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - December 9, 2024 - 9 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.19.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - November 19, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.19.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - August 20, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor8.5.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - August 5, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor8.5.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - July 16, 2024 - 4 p.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor7.16.24.html
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