Jones County commissioners say assessment notices mailed, authorize appraisal contract pending legal review

Jones County commissioners and staff said most property assessment notices were mailed this week, that a small number of notices were mailed later after late changes, and that the county has received 14 appeals so far. The board also voted unanimously to authorize entering into a contract with Technical Appraisal Services for the county's next revaluation, subject to legal review.

The county's assessment staff told the Jones County Board of Commissioners on June 5 that they made additional changes after the May 21 meeting and mailed a handful of assessment notices later than the main mailing so those owners would receive updated information. The staff member said the list of changes is available for comparison and that the notices and updates have been posted to the county's QPublic portal.

The matters matter because many property owners see an initial, estimated tax when notices follow a revaluation; that estimate uses last year’s millage rate and often produces what officials called “sticker shock,” prompting public questions and appeals. County leaders told residents they expect to reduce, or “roll back,” the estimated millage rate when the board sets the budget so that the tax bills reflect the county’s actual levy needed to operate.

Miss Adams, a county staff member who presented routine property-continuation items, confirmed a single continuation and a single error-and-relief name change were approved by motion during the meeting. A separate county assessor staff member said the office had been “very busy,” fielding many phone calls and addressing routine appeals; the staff member also said a public brochure explaining the assessment process has been completed and will be posted to the county website.

Commissioner Davis praised staff for their workload and communication with the public, saying the office’s effort had been “off the chain” and noting that the advance media coverage likely helped limit the number of appeals. The staff reported 14 appeals filed at the time of the meeting.

Commissioners discussed how the initial estimate shown on mailed notices is calculated and emphasized it is only an estimate. The board said it intends to set a millage rate based on the county's budget and to “roll back” the estimate where necessary; officials said the final tax bills will be based on that adopted levy rather than the estimate shown on the notices.

On the county’s longer-term property work, the board revisited a previously approved bid for the 2026 revaluation. Chair (unnamed) said, “Miss Bridal has indicated that the contract itself is still under legal review,” and then asked for a motion authorizing the board to enter into the contract subject to that review. A commissioner made the motion and another seconded it; the board voted 5–0 in favor. The motion authorizes the board to enter into a contract with Technical Appraisal Services pending completion of legal review; the county did not sign the contract at the meeting.

The board also announced a brief executive session was planned immediately after the public meeting. Staff said they will monitor incoming appeals and public questions; if recurring themes emerge the county will schedule an informational forum or open meeting to address them.

Less-critical items handled without extended discussion included approval of the day's agenda, approval of a continuation application, and approval of an error-and-relief name change for a mobile home title. The assessor staff confirmed the assessment updates are also available on QPublic for property owners to review.