Scotland County officials outline reevaluation; residents press appeals, exemptions and timelines

At a packed public forum on April 6, the Scotland County Board of Commissioners heard a detailed presentation from County Manager April Snead on the county’s first full property tax reevaluation in roughly two decades and a stream of concerns from residents about large valuation increases and the appeals process.

Snead, the county manager, told the board and the public that the reevaluation covered roughly 22,000 parcels and that the county contracted Piner Associates to prepare the schedule of values and perform commercial valuations. “We have to assess all property at true market value as of Jan. 1, 2026,” Snead said, summarizing the statutory duty that triggered the countywide review.

Why it matters: a revaluation resets assessed values across the county; the tax rate the commissioners set afterward — not the reassessments themselves — determines whether households pay more or less. Snead said the board must wait until appeals are resolved before publishing a revenue-neutral tax rate, because successful appeals change the tax base.

Snead explained how values were produced and what residents can do if they disagree. The process relied on market sales, building-cost data, depreciation and parcel-specific attributes; the county used aerial imagery tools and other public records to detect changes. She described the informal appeal process the tax office is handling now and the subsequent option to appeal to the Board of Equalization and Review. “If you file an appeal, our staff will look at the information, call you and then send a decision by letter,” Snead said.

Residents pushed back. Reverend B.J. Gibson asked the county to do more outreach to seniors and people without internet access; Sally McLaurin and others said they had not received clear notices. Several speakers, including Mark English and Ronnie Nicholson, said their tax cards showed their assessed values had roughly doubled and said that timeline and fairness concerns made it difficult to gather evidence for appeals.

“My property doubled,” Mark English said, describing a home in poor condition and asking how quickly the tax office would respond to appeals. Snead replied that informal appeals were in process and that staff had received hundreds of appeals and were contacting appellants one by one. She added that appellants who miss the informal window can still present their evidence to the Board of Equalization and Review.

On exemptions, Snead said veterans rated 100% disabled may qualify for a veterans exemption and that seniors 65 and older with household income around $38,800 could qualify for a senior exemption; she advised residents to apply by the June 1 deadline for exemptions. “There are exemptions available to senior citizens and to veterans,” Snead said, adding that state rules determine the limits and eligibility.

Commissioners emphasized the role of the tax rate. Several members said a countywide increase in assessed value does not automatically mean higher bills if the commissioners adjust the rate to be revenue neutral. “The important thing to watch is the tax rate,” one commissioner said. Snead told residents the rate is set during the budget process and will be adopted before July 1.

What’s next: informal appeals are ongoing; the Board of Equalization and Review will convene in April to hear appeals that proceed beyond the informal step. The county said it will make schedule-of-values documents available, encourage residents to check their tax cards for factual errors (bedrooms, square footage, outbuildings) and assist residents who need help filing appeals.

The board closed the public forum to move on to other agenda items and later recessed into a closed session.

Sources: Presentation and answers from County Manager April Snead; public comments from multiple residents and attendees at the Scotland County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 6, 2026.