Final Digest Shows Small Decrease in Values

The Total Digest (value of property in Jasper County) was $324,568,514, only $2,907,084, or slightly less than one percent less than last year.

The final 2013 Tax Digest was approved by the Board of Assessors (BOA) as presented by Chief Appraiser Lynn Bentley last Thursday, May 30, at the BOA regular monthly meeting.

In 2005, the Net Digest was $401,293,180 representing a three percent increase over 2004. An eight percent increase was recorded in 2006, as well as in 2007.  In 2008, only a four percent increase was achieved when property values in the county reached their peak at $460,508,560.

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The total value dropped by two percent in 2009, by 14 percent more in 2010, and an additional 11 percent in 2011.  In 2012, the decrease dropped to eight percent, and then down to the current one percent this year.

Increases in property values this year have already been reported in nearby Atlanta, and across the country, and if the current trend continues there is a possibility values will increase in Jasper County in 2014. 

The only real property showing an increase this year was timber, the value of which was $3,212,366 compared to last year’s $1,755,9201. However, said Ms. Bentley, this was mainly due to the increase in the number of acres of timber harvested.

The Exempt Digest (non taxable properties) made up of public property, religious worship, property for charitable organizations, places of burial, charity hospitals, educational institutions, pollution equipment and others was reported at a total value of $63,215,120.

The BOA is currently in possession of approximately 100 appeals of 2013 values, which are scheduled to be reviewed within the next two months.

Under Conservation Applications (request for tax reductions on parcels of land) a Conversation Renewal for Danny L. and Kimberly K. Herring was denied pending further investigation.  A renewal for Penn Tract LLC was approved.

Conservation Continuations for eight parcels were approved for The Lurner Benton V Irrevocable Trust and Morgan Banks Benton Irrevocable Trust, for 11 parcels for The Lurner Benton V.

Irrevocable Trust 2, for Lurner Oliver Benton IV ETAL, for Rusty S. Benton, for Martha Lucas, for James C. Ezell, Jr., and for J. R. and Nancy J. Estes.

New Conservation was approved for Keva J. Edwards and Larraine K. Alta, and for James W. and Beverly Holcombe.