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Jones County assessors decline to appeal state sales-ratio figure; approve homestead exemption and appeals
Summary
At a short September meeting, the Jones County Board of Assessors reviewed new sales-ratio numbers from state auditors, decided against an appeal, and approved a homestead exemption, errors-and-release items and motor-vehicle appeals.
The Jones County Board of Assessors reviewed new sales-ratio figures from state auditors, decided not to pursue an appeal and approved several routine assessment actions at a meeting on Monday evening.
Board members heard that the Department of Audits and Accounts’ review produced a sales-ratio result of about 35.52, an improvement from earlier figures. “We’ve got the review from the Department of Audits and Accounts and it came in at 35.52, showing improvement,” said Mister Goodman, staff member, during the meeting.
The board discussed differences in methodology between the Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA) and the Georgia Department of Revenue. Board members said DOAA compared 2024 assessments to 2023 sales this year, whereas prior comparisons used the same calendar year for sales and assessments; that change, members said, raised the reported ratio. The board noted two benchmark numbers cited in the discussion: 36 (DOAA) and 38 (Georgia Department of Revenue). “The criteria to appeal is if you think the methodology was faulty or the data was faulty,” said the board chair (name not specified). The chair and staff concluded there was no clear basis to mount an appeal given the methodology change and available sales data.
Acting Chief Mister Davis, who was not present, was reported to have advised against an appeal. A board member summarized Davis’s position, saying he “didn’t think that there was a need to” appeal and that the county’s sales “look good.”
The board also handled routine assessment business. Members approved one homestead-exemption application supported by a Department of Veterans Affairs letter, accepted the correction and release of 81 notices (NRS and NODs) dated Sept. 4–5, 2025, and affirmed 17 motor-vehicle value appeals. There were three pieces of undeliverable mail noted for the record.
Public comment was brief: one attendee, identified as Miss Debbie, offered no substantive remarks. The board then voted to move into an executive session for a few minutes.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve the agenda — approved (mover/second not specified in the record). - Motion to approve minutes of the Aug. 7 meeting — approved (mover/second not specified). - Motion to approve one homestead exemption (supporting VA letter noted) — approved (mover/second not specified). - Motion to approve corrections/release for 81 NRS/NODs (dated 09/04/2025 and 09/05/2025) — approved (mover/second not specified). - Motion to approve 17 motor vehicle appeals and values — approved (mover/second not specified). - Motion to move into executive session — approved (mover/second not specified).
Each recorded motion in the meeting was seconded and carried; the transcript does not include roll-call vote tallies or named vote records for each motion.
