Click to download the PDF:
http://www.cninewspapers.com/CamdenCoBOAPerformanceReview.pdf
Filed under General by
Dear Winston,
I want to give you a brief report on my meeting with the Georgia Department of Revenue which had a three man team here to perform a performance review of the Camden County Assessor's Office. The meeting took place at 3:00 PM Tuesday, November 3rd at the renovated courthouse. I explained to the team that I was representing the Camden County Watchdog Group per your request.
After a round of introductions, I provided the team the correspondence you had received from the membership and I showed them the petitions, with the hundreds of signatures, asking that something be done about the inequitable 2009 assessments issued from the Camden County Assessor's Office.
Prior to allowing me to present our case, the team leader told me that they were not interested in individual cases or appeals and that they wished to focus on facts with which they could ascertain the overall performance of the assessors office; fairness in assessments and communication and follow-up with the property owners.
I presented a map of the St. Marys area with the various areas of the City identified. I handed out spread sheets which showed assessed values of improved properties (land with house) for each area with value of land, total property value, change since last assessment, land value as a percent of total, with a calculated average for each area. I also presented a poster board for each area with multiple photos of representative properties and assigned assessment values (land, improvements, accessories), relative lot sizes and cost per square foot of heated living space. I pointed out many obvious discrepancies in the assessments due to a variety of factors. I reported on one large tract of property (nearly 40 acres) in a very desirable area located between, but contiguous to, two developed areas in which the total assessed land value of the tract was less than any individual lot in the surrounding developed areas. It was quite an eye opener.
Unfortunately, I only had a half hour to make our presentation, I literally could have filled a four hour time slot. But it was clear to me that we made our case that there are significant problems in the Assessor's Office.
As time ran out I provided feedback regarding the communication and responsiveness of Assessor's Office. I reported that I knew of many property owners who submitted Returns at the beginning of the Assessment cycle. I knew of no one who received an opportunity to have their Return addressed. Further, I knew of many of the, 17% county wide and 22% city wide, taxpayers who appealed their property assessments, and I was only aware of one instance of a decision being rendered by the Assessor's Office.
I thanked the team for the opportunity to address them on behalf of the Camden County Watchdogs and stated that I would be happy to provide any of our information to the Assessor's Office.
Sincerely,
Mike Wilson
Filed under Camden County Georgia, Property Tax by
Tea Party Patriots and Watch Dogs:
We have approval to protest in front of the old Camden County Court House in Woodbine on Oct 22, 2009 at 4:15 to 5:15pm. The hearing starts at 6pm. Please stay on the side walk and off the sprinkler system (per county manager). Please be respectful and bring your signs. No profanity please. Also, please bring more demonstrators because there is power in numbers. Hope to see you there. Email me if you have any questions.
–
Jason Spencer
Camden County Tea Party Patriots
28 Yachtsmen Court
Woodbine, Georgia 31569
Filed under Property Tax by
1. EMAIL from Chuck Trader To Camden Watchdog:
From: Chuck Trader [mailto:chuck.trader@ci.st-marys.ga.us]
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 10:22 PM
To: 'Camden Watchdog'
Cc: 'Bill Shanahan'
Subject: RE: Camden Watchdog – Tea Party Patriots protests
Dear Jason:
I am responding to your e-mail that was sent from webmaster@camdenwatchdog.com. Can I assume this e-mail went to all of your members as well as all citizens that are on your mailing list? If so, I would like to see you provide them the additional factual information provided below.
The City of St. Marys is not proposing a hike in the millage rate. Last year’s millage rate was 5.6 and this years proposed rate is 5.351 and does not reflect any increase in property tax revenue resulting from the increased digest. We are providing the citizens of St. Marys 100% of the rollback rate.
We understand the difficulties many face during these tough economic times. Our work is not completed but I believe the city council’s actions tonight reflect the proactive approach we took to cut the general budget costs by over $2,000,000 annually during the past 12 months.
I trust you will make the appropriate adjustment in your recent and future correspondence that the millage rate increases are not “across Camden County”. You might also note that the City of St. Marys has one of the lowest millage rates for a city it’s size throughout the State of Georgia.
Thanks for your efforts to convey not only the negative but also the positive accomplishments of your local governments.
Chuck
City Councilman
Post 3
City of St. Marys
418 Osborne Road
St. Marys, GA 31558
City:(912) 510-4041
Cell: (904) 238-0012
Chuck.trader@tds.net
2. EMAIL from Chuck Trader to Winston Barlow
On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 10:32 PM, Chuck Trader <chuck.trader@ci.st-marys.ga.us> wrote:
Winston:
Please find my e-mail responding the Jason’s mass e-mail sent via camdenwatchdog.com. I have yet to get a response and have just read the same e-mail in the letter to the editor in today’s Tribune and Georgian. To say the least, I am disappointed.
Since you are the president of the organization, I respectfully request your support in ensuring that the information sent out by people representing your organization characterize true and factual information. I would like to see action taken to not only respond to me but also to all of those citizens that have been misled by the information. I believe you would expect the same from me or the organizations that I lead.
I appreciate your consideration in this matter.
Respectfully,
Chuck
City Councilman
Post 3
3. EMAIL (response) from Winston Barlow to Chuck Trader:
9:22 am October 15, 2009
Chuck,
No where in the letter did I see the city of St. Marys mentioned. The fact is the protest are scheduled at the County and the school board. If I missed something or we're looking at different letters please correct me.
The facts are that people are already upset because of unfair assessments: therefore to bring up any increase above the rollbacks is going to further upset people. The facts are that such increases were discussed in the paper and people want answers. I've always heard that the hit dog howls. If St. Marys was not mentioned but I'm hearing howling, should we be concerned?
If the St. Marys decision is not to participate with the millage increase, this is public knowledge and we will certainly pass on our praise and accolades but that is not our focus at this time. Right now we must keep our eye on the ball and the ball is the areas that want to unfairly increase our assessments and millage.
My advise would be if the shoe don't fit don't wear it and we will give your accolades when we have more time. Right now we will stay focused on the priorities.
Respectfully.
Winston Barlow
Filed under General by
Moderator will be Gary Willis.
The format will be questions on major issues from moderator followed by questions from audience which will be written down and passed to moderator to be screened for appropriateness as to keep forum conducted in professional manner.
Filed under General by
St. Marys, Georgia
October 8th
Press Release
Mayor Eskridge Thanks City Employees
Mayor Eskridge attended the Camden Partnership Breakfast, October 7, 2009 at Kingsbay Naval Submarine Base. Mayor Eskridge listened to Ms. Sheila McNeil, President of Camden Partnership as she praised Camden County for being the most sought after place to live by men and women serving in the United States Navy. Ms. McNeil explained to the guest in attendance that Kingsbay Naval Submarine Base here in Camden County was the most desired Naval Base in the United States. This wonderful acknowledgment is due to Camden County having one of the lowest costs of living in the country. We have more people reenlisting to stay here, and more people retiring here than any other Navy Base in the United States.
Mayor Eskridge wanted the City of St. Marys Employees to know that he understands that you and your personnel have made this possible. Thanks to your hard work, the City of St. Marys has some of the lowest taxes (for a City with its demographics) in the state, as well as, the lowest employee to citizen ratio in the Southeastern part of the state.
As City Manager, I too, would like you to know that I appreciate all of your hard work. I hear people saying reduce waste, but no one seems to be able to identify where the waste is located. Thank you all for your dedication and for a job well done.
William P. Shanahan
City Manager
Filed under Saint Marys, GA by
The Georgia Department of Revenue has received the Camden County Commission request to accomplish a Performance Review of the Camden County Tax Assessors Office. There will be a three-member team headed by Mr. Grant Hilton of the DOR and two Georgia County Tax Assessors (unnamed at this time).
The team will visit the Camden County Tax Assessors Office on November 3,4 and 5, 2009.
The Performance Review will include all functions of the Assessors Office including the recent appraisals.
The DOR contacts are:
Vicki Lambert, Director
Local Government Services
4245 International Parkway, Suite A
Hapeville, GA 30354
Phone 404-969-0707
E-mail: Local.Government.Services@dor.ga.gov
Ellen Mills, Digest Compliance Manager
Address As Above
Phone 404-968-3800
Phone 404-968-0708
Mr. Grant Hilton
Address As Above
No Phone
The three-person team will accept written comments from the public at the above address prior to the scheduled visit and copies of written comments should also be sent to the Camden County Commission. Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Grant Hilton at the above address.
If there is sufficient interest, the three-person team may hold a public comment session during the November 3,4 and 5, 2009 visit.
Filed under Camden County Georgia, Property Tax by
Residents will have three opportunities to speak to the Camden County Board of Commissioners about the county's plan to increase the taxes that it will levy this year.
On Friday, Camden County Board of Commissioners announced its intention to increase property taxes by not rolling back the millage rate, which will mean that more taxes will be collected this year from property owners than last year.
The county intends to increase property taxes by .88 percent over the rollback millage rate for county residents and 4.65 percent over the rollback rate for Woodbine tax district residents.
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Filed under General by
