Jones County Board of Assessors appoints Lanette Jones as secretary and votes to seek $150,000 budget amendment

The Jones County Board of Assessors on Wednesday appointed Lanette Jones as board secretary and voted to ask the County Commissioners for a $150,000 budget amendment to cover costs tied to a recent countywide property reevaluation.

Board members moved quickly through a short agenda at the special meeting. The appointment followed a recap that Jones previously had served as secretary and — according to the board’s announcement — has “completed the appraiser one course,” which the board said restores her eligibility under a state review requirement that an appraisal staff member serve as secretary. A board member moved to appoint Lanette Jones; the motion was seconded and approved by the board.

The meeting then turned to a proposed budget amendment. An agency official told the board the assessor’s office has incurred more than $10,000 in out-of-pocket expenses tied to the countywide reevaluation — primarily copying, paper and related supplies — and faces additional costs from settled contracts, higher printing and mailing fees, and technical-appraisal support that exceeds the contracted support days. The official said those pressures, combined with anticipated increases in property-value appeals and the need to restore two previously approved positions that were not carried into this year’s budget, justify asking for up to $150,000.

"I will go before the Board of Commissioners next Tuesday evening and request an amendment of $150,000," the agency official said, describing the figure as intended to cover the identified shortfalls and one-time needs, including urgent office furniture replacements for a heavily used public office.

Board members moved that the official request the amendment from the County Commissioners at their next meeting; the motion was approved. The board did not provide a roll-call tally in the meeting record; members signaled assent verbally.

During a brief update portion, staff member Mr. Goodman and a presenter working with Technical Appraisal said the vendor will deliver proposed assessment numbers in advance of the next meeting and will perform one-third of reviews annually going forward. The presenter also said Trailer (a vendor) will handle business personal property reviews.

The board adjourned after the business was completed. The agency official will present the amendment request to the County Commissioners at their next scheduled meeting; no final action by the commissioners was recorded in this meeting.