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Jones County commissioners approve $6,000 budget shift to cover new chief appraiser overlap
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved moving $6,000 from the county mapping line to salaries to cover overlap and related costs after a change in the office of the chief appraiser; the request prompted questions about recurring mapping needs and long-term budget impacts.
Jones County commissioners on Jan. 3 approved a request from the Board of Assessors to move $6,000 from the mapping line item to salaries to cover an overlap between the outgoing and incoming chief appraisers and certification costs.
The change was requested in a letter from the Board of Assessors asking the commission to “move $6,000 from the line item known as mapping into salaries to cover both the overage caused by the overlap between the outgoing chief appraiser of Linda Sibylian and the incoming chief appraiser, Tony L. George, and an additional salary for Tony L. George as well as an increase for Kim Adams to do acquiring certification through the Department of Revenue.”
Mapping, the new chief appraiser explained, relates to the county’s GIS and third‑party fees for reconfiguring parcel maps when properties are split. “Mapping has to do with our GIS. That has to do with when someone wants to split a property. We have to do that internally, but then we send it to a third party vendor for them to reconfigure the maps,” said Tony Hill George, identified in the meeting as the county’s new chief appraiser.
Commissioners asked whether reducing the mapping line now would create a recurring shortfall. George said the immediate need was a one‑time overlap and a payout tied to the outgoing chief appraiser’s accrued time. “The $6,000 is part of the outgoing chief appraiser’s vacation time that you still owe because she’s still on the books. That’s where the money’s going to. It’s not going to me,” he said.
Some commissioners urged caution about permanently reducing mapping funds. Commissioner Martin said the board has historically held tight to salaries and questioned assuming a higher salary baseline for a new hire. Others said the assessors’ board had made the recommendation and that next year’s budget would return to the commissioners’ review.
A motion “to approve amending the budget for the chief appraiser” carried on voice vote. At least one commissioner registered opposition during the roll call of “all in favor/oppose,” as recorded in the meeting minutes.
The change will be implemented in the county’s fiscal-year budget lines; commissioners said they would revisit mapping and salary lines when preparing next year’s budget.
