Jones County approves $25,000 budget amendment to hire technical appraisal services; sales-ratio numbers prompt possible appeal

Jones County commissioners approved a budget amendment Aug. 19 to reallocate funds so the county can contract with a technical appraisal services firm to assist in a property revaluation and appeals workload.

County staff told the board the chief appraiser position remains open after two out-of-town candidates declined offers. To address a backlog of more than 500 appeals, staff proposed contracting with a technical appraisal company beginning Sept. 1; the board approved moving approximately $25,000 from a personnel line to a professional-services line to fund the contract.

During the same discussion staff presented preliminary sales-ratio results for utilities from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts (sales-ratio report dated Aug. 12). The report showed a utilities sales ratio of 35.52 for the relevant comparison (2024 sales to 2024 assessed values under the new methodology), which staff said is higher than previously reported figures and narrows the gap the county would need to reach a 40% valuation for utilities. Commissioners discussed whether to file an appeal of the sales ratio to increase the utilities’ assessed value and potentially recover additional revenue; staff said they would consider an appeal now that the Aug. 12 report was received.

The county’s acting chief appraiser, Mister Davis, will continue in that role while staff engages the technical appraisal firm to complete the reevaluation and help resolve appeals.

The board approved the budget amendment by motion and vote during the meeting.