Glynn County appraisal office seeks vendor work, security upgrade and office renovations ahead of 2027 budget

Chief Appraiser Ron Glisson told the Glynn County Board of Assessors on Nov. 13 that the appraisal office plans to pursue two vendors under its proposed 2027 budget and will use a recently allocated $75,000 to add security at the front counter and to update flooring and interior finishes if funds remain.

The request centers on two vendor proposals Glisson described to the board: GMAS, quoted at about $14,000 to support assessment work on rural parcels, and a follow‑up engagement with a vendor the transcript identifies as "True Roll," which would use the second year of a prior two‑year arrangement. Glisson said the first year of that engagement produced about $577,000 in taxpayer savings against an estimated $68,000 initial investment and that a second year should still be net positive.

Why it matters: The appraisal office’s use of private vendors and specialty software is intended to identify missed or incorrect assessments and return revenue to the tax base; board members pressed for clarity on contractual guarantees and the timing for placing the expense in the capital budget.

Glisson outlined the security plan for the public counter, saying the $75,000 allocation from the county commission was intended to bring the appraisal office in line with other offices in the Harold Pate Building. "They've given us a $75,000 allowance to become a little more secure and kinda get in line with the other offices," Glisson said, adding that bids are being solicited and that leftover funds would go toward flooring and painting.

On the vendors, Glisson said GMAS provides a clear implementation timeline and that its price has been stable. He described the follow‑up engagement with "True Roll" as a continuation of a favorable two‑for‑one arrangement the office previously received. "We save approximately $577,000 from year 1," he said, and while he expected year‑two savings to be lower than that first year, he still described the return as "net positive." He also acknowledged that an early verbal guarantee about break‑even results had not been included in the final contract language.

Board members asked whether another vendor run would identify enough additional issues to justify the expense and whether the vendor would commit to guaranteeing outcomes. The chair and at least one other member said they would feel more comfortable if the contract included an explicit guarantee or a reimbursement clause if the work failed to at least break even.

Glisson offered to consult with the county attorney and to talk with the vendor about incorporating such language before the board’s next meeting, noting a December 12 calendar deadline for capital requests. He also said the product can make staff work more efficient by surfacing issues, but processing identified items requires staff follow‑up.

Glisson also described planned renovations for the appraisal office entry: a secure service counter with security glass, two workstations on each side, a controlled access door in the middle and an open waiting area with computer access. "It's gonna be similar to where finance is," he said, and staff member Jamie Lane has been working on conceptual layouts.

Next steps: Glisson will attempt to negotiate contract language with the vendor and consult the county attorney ahead of the board’s next meeting to resolve guarantee and timing questions. The board did not record a formal vote on pursuing the vendors during the Nov. 13 meeting; Glisson asked for the board’s "blessing" to move forward pending further review.