Assessors deny several homestead and Freeport exemption requests, approve covenant fee refunds

The Paulding County Board of Tax Assessors disapproved multiple 2024 homestead exemption applications and one Freeport exemption application during its May 13, 2026 meeting.

Chief Appraiser James Stokes, Jr. presented a list of homestead exemption denials detailing reasons for each denial. Examples recorded in the minutes include Robert Crowley ("does not reside in the home — lives out of state"), Richard Jacob ("applicant is not an owner of the property"), Jaritza Laboy ("receiving Homestead in another county") and Kenneth Williams ("incomplete paperwork"). Vice-Chairman Ben Amerson moved to disapprove the homestead exemption applications for the reasons submitted; Member Gary Griswell seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The board also accepted staff recommendations to disapprove a Freeport exemption application for T & R Fixtures, LLC (account P10752); Member Lydia Rollins moved to disapprove and Vice-Chairman Ben Amerson seconded. That motion passed unanimously.

Separately, staff presented denied conservation-use covenant applications and recommended refunding filing fees to certain applicants (examples listed: Altimis Property Management, LLC account 95620 — noted as "don't have income requirements"; Clarke Family Revocable Trust account 4189 — "needing Trust Agreement"). Member Gary Griswell moved to approve staff recommendations to refund the filing fees for the denied covenants; Member Gary Spinks seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

All votes recorded on these items show the full board voting in favor (McBurrows, Amerson, Spinks, Rollins and Griswell). The minutes list the reasons for denial on each application and record approval of the refunds without additional conditions.