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Revenue commissioner: seven-year audit finds no findings; 7% assessment cap, BOE notices coming
Summary
Covington County Revenue Commissioner reported a clean seven-year audit, said the state pplied a 7% cap to property assessment increases, and said Board of Equalization notices will go to owners whose property values rose by more than $2,000.
The Covington County Revenue Commissioner told the County Commission on June 10 that a state audit of the revenue office covering seven years produced "no findings whatsoever." The commissioner said the county has completed its final settlement for 2024 and will forward records to the state comptroller, Chris Lentini.
The audit result matters because it clears the county's tax records after several years of reviews and sets the frame for property-tax notices this summer, the commissioner said. He added that the state has conducted a trends study and that a legislative cap limiting annual assessment increases to 7 percent is in effect; he said he will present trend details at the commission's next meeting and that the cap reduced the number of large year‑to‑year increases.
The commissioner said Board of Equalization notices will be mailed to property owners whose assessments rose by more than $2,000; recipients will have an opportunity to contest values before the Board of Equalization.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how long the 7 percent cap remains in place and whether exemptions for seniors should be updated. The commissioner recommended the commission discuss a state-level change to the $12,000 senior exemption threshold (a 65-and-older exemption set in prior decades) and suggested asking local legislators to consider increasing that exemption to a higher amount to reflect inflation.
No formal motion or vote was recorded on tax policy at the June 10 meeting; the commissioner said he will return next week with detailed trend data and the finalized settlement documents for the commission's review and signature.
The county will transmit the finalized 2024 settlement to the State of Alabama after the commission reviews and signs the documents, the commissioner said.
