MINUTES # 37-09
The Columbus, Georgia, Board of Tax Assessors met Monday, October 19, 2009 at
9:00AM with Chairman William Braxton, Assessor Lawton Grantham, Assessor
Richard Stallings, Assessor Ann Grantham and Assessor Pat Hunter present. Also
present was Res Div Mgr Bob O?Brien serving as Acting Secretary. Chief
Appraiser Betty Middleton was attending a Dept of Rev Seminar.
Assessor Lawton Grantham made the motion to approve Min#36-09; Assessor Pat
Hunter seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
The Board signed assessment corrections for real estate.
Res Div Mgr Bob O?Brien apprised the Board of a deed situation, which caused
the taxpayer to lose the homestead exemption eligibility, but was corrected by
a deed, which reinstated the homestead exemption (PID 093 013 021). Assessor
Pat Hunter made a motion to reinstate the homestead exemption for 2009;
Assessor Lawton Grantham seconded the motion, motion carried.
Met with Mrs. Vest regarding the taxes on her property located at 5803
Highpoint Drive (PID 099 005 008). Mrs. Vest explained her inability to pay her
tax bill for 2009, since she is living on an extremely low income with high
medical expenses. The tax bill increased due to the State tax relief grant not
being available to homeowners for 2009. The Board sympathized with Mrs. Vest,
however, told her that they will further discuss any options, but suggested
that she contact her Councilor to attempt getting relief from the increased tax
bill. Mrs. Vest stated that she had applied for the elderly homestead exemption
for 2010. Decision delayed.
Res Div Mgr Bob O?Brien presented the Request for Non-Taxability for PID 084
007 004 for a previous year, since no copy of the request was on file in this
office, taxpayer is requested to submit a new request for 2010.
The Board discussed the request for Non-taxability for PID 096 001 009.
Assessor Pat Hunter made the motion to grant tax exempt status for 2009;
Assessor Lawton Grantham seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Res Div Mgr Bob O?Brien presented a letter from Atty Lomax to the Board for
their information regarding PID 026 017 007.
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Min37-09
Res Div Mgr Bob O?Brien apprised the Board of an issue concerning collection of
taxes for properties purchased by the City midyear of 2008. The Board expressed
that this is a collection matter and should be handled by the Tax
Commissioner?s Office in conjunction with the Community Reinvestment
Department. No action was taken.
Res Div Mgr Bob O?Brien presented the Board with a written explanation
concerning PID 029 041 001AX. The Board took no action.
The Board approved the applications for Preferential Agricultural Assessment
for PID 108 001 001 and 107 001 008H for 2008.
Met with Residential Division Manager Bob O?Brien, reviewed and approved the
following:
2009 Appeals: 97 (NC)
17 (-)
1 (+)
2009 Late Appls: 2 (No Action)
Met with Commercial Appraiser Henry Banks, reviewed and approved the following:
Multiyear Appls: 6(-)
5(NC)
2009 Appeals: 7(-)
3(+)
9(NC)
Met with Personal Property Auditor Larry Dixon, reviewed and approved the
following
Assessment Corrections: 3 (+)
9(-)
PP Auditor Larry Dixon presented the Board with a personal property return,
mailed by the USPS, which was postmarked timely, but because of insufficient
postage was returned to the taxpayer, who immediately returned it to the Tax
Assessors? Office applying the additional postage. The Board agreed to consider
the filing of the personal property return timely.
Adjourned ll:14AM.
ROBERT O?BRIEN
Acting Secretary
APPROVED:____________________________________
___________ ______________ ____________ _____________
___________
W B Braxton L E Grantham Jr R L Stallings A C
Grantham P B Hunter
Chairman Assessor Assessor
Assessor Assessor
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