Digest Nears Completion
Jasper County property owners should be on the lookout this month for their 2003 tax bills.
Jasper County chief appraiser Brac Bohannon informed the tax assessors board on Tuesday that the 2003 tax digest was near completion.
“The preliminary digest will run Wednesday [November 5] with the actual digest scheduled for delivery to the state within 3-4 weeks,” he explained. “At approximately the same time tax notices will be mailed.”
Mr. Bohannon said that the final digest should be finished and printed by Nov. 12.
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He also noted that the digest will be printed from the NORCAS system but will be converted to the WinGap system. The tax maintenance office currently operates with the use of both systems but will not for much longer.
The three-member board unanimously voted to convert the computer system from NORCAS back to WinGap as long as the conversion process does not exceed $5,000 not including the purchase of at least three new computers and monitors.
A majority vote of the previous board, at the recommendation of the former chief appraiser John Barnes, voted to convert from WinGap to the costly NORCAS system.
Mr. Bohannon informed the board that equipment upgrades were mandatory in the office with the revaluation scheduled to begin soon. At least three but probably five new computer systems and a laser printer would be required. He agreed to submit an estimate of computer costs to the assessors for review prior to the next meeting of the county commission, who must approve the expenditure.
In preparation for the revaluation, the chief appraiser said that the mapping office had been designated as the quarters for the revaluation representatives with TAS Associates.
Mr. Bohannon said that he was interested in keeping the public informed about the revaluation process and would like to submit a press release to the newspaper explaining to residents that TAS field representatives will be making visits to their homes.
Assessor chairman James Harrell suggested that each board member visit with a representative while in the field in order to better understand the entire process.
While only suggesting the field visits, the chairman was very adamant about the tax maintenance office acquiring DSL internet access as soon as possible.
“The only operating DSL line for county usage is in the county administrator’s office,” he said.
The chairman went on to say that his understanding, last year before the renovations began, was that the initial DSL request was intended for installation in the tax assessors office. Mr. Harrell said he had spoken with Phil Peevy on several occasions since he took office about expediting the process but thus far nothing has happened.
The board voted to allow the chairman to speak with the county administrator one final time about installing the service. If the findings were not to his liking, Mr. Harrell said he would hire an independent contractor this week because “six to seven months more won’t suffice for the office.”
In personnel matters, the board accepted the resignation of Susan Jones as mapping technician and board secretary. She cited personal issues in her letter of resignation to the board. Additionally, board members applauded the chief appraiser for advertising two vacancies in The Monticello News.
Other business included denying Providence Baptist Church conservation use status on 180 acres because the application does not meet state guidelines.
The board reviewed and approved the public utilities returns as advertised by the state while also voting to award automatic elderly school tax exemption to S2 applicants, as mandated by the state.
