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Board votes to create revaluation task force as county prepares for 2027 reassessment
Summary
County manager briefed the commissioners on sales‑ratio analysis and revaluation timing; the board approved a seven‑member revaluation task force to help draft schedule‑of‑values principles and public outreach ahead of a statutorily required reassessment scheduled for Jan. 1, 2027.
Burke County commissioners voted Tuesday to create a citizen task force to guide planning and public outreach related to the next county real‑property revaluation, which staff said should be scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
County management told the board that the state Department of Revenue monitors the county’s sales‑ratio — the relationship between assessed tax values and arms‑length sale prices — and that Burke’s ratio has declined since the last revaluation on Jan. 1, 2023. "Based on the letter that we've received from the Department of Revenue ... we're at about 75% today," the County Manager said, adding that statute triggers revaluation planning when the sales‑ratio deviates more than 15% from 100% market value.
Why it matters: A revaluation adjusted to market value is intended to equalize the tax base; changes to assessed values do not automatically change tax levies, which the board sets. The manager said the county’s tax base is roughly $11.6 billion and that real property comprises about 80% of it; he emphasized that the board controls the tax rate, which is set after values are certified.
Task force and schedule: Staff proposed a seven‑member task force including real‑estate, appraisal, contractor, insurance/estimator, agricultural, older‑adult and two at‑large members. The group will review valuation principles, the schedule of values (the mass‑appraisal tables used to convert property characteristics to assessed value), and public‑outreach strategy. Staff expects to present draft schedules in August, hold a public hearing in November and request adoption of schedules by the board before January 1, 2027. The county intends to perform the revaluation in‑house to save roughly $1 million compared with contracting the work, staff said.
Board action: Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025‑21 establishing the task force and its charge; the motion passed unanimously.
Ending: Staff will solicit applications for the seven seats, conduct regular task‑force meetings, and return to the board with draft schedule values and a public hearing plan.
