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Jones County officials approve 2026 personal property values; freeport exemptions denied pending documentation
Summary
At a brief June 12 meeting, Jones County officials approved the 2026 personal property assessment values but instructed staff to deny freeport exemption claims and use 2025 values for one account (15859) until additional documentation is provided.
Jones County officials voted June 12 to approve the county’s 2026 personal property assessment values while excluding and conditionally treating several exemption claims that lacked documentation.
The decision came during a short meeting where the chair explained that Trailer Business Services had completed a review of business personal property and that the assessment list also covers other personal property such as boats. The chair said five accounts that applied for the freeport exemption were largely lacking required paperwork and recommended denying those exemptions "pending additional information."
Mr. Riley, responding to the chair, said staff must have sufficient documentation before granting exemptions. "I feel confident too as well to table those and or deny those today until we receive that information to verify those numbers," Mr. Riley said, supporting the office’s recommendation to withhold exemptions until verification is provided.
The board identified one specific account, account number 15859, for which it recommended using its 2025 assessed values until the account provides additional documentation. Mr. Goodman located the account number on the assessment packet during the meeting and confirmed it as 15859.
An unnamed member moved to approve the 2026 personal property digest values with the exceptions described — using the 2025 value for account 15859 pending more information and denying the freeport exemption claims until documentation is supplied. That motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
The chair said the assessment list reflects company-reported figures and that the office took those reports "at face value," noting the office will follow up with companies to verify disposals and depreciation where documentation is missing. The action directs county staff to request and review additional records from the five freeport applicants and to apply the 2025 valuation for account 15859 unless adequate evidence is submitted.
Votes at a glance - Agenda approval: motion to approve the agenda carried by voice vote. - Minutes approval: motion to approve the June 4, 2026 minutes carried by voice vote. - 2026 personal property digest: motion to approve values with exception for account 15859 and to deny freeport exemptions pending documentation — approved by voice vote. - Updated policy and procedure manual: motion to approve as presented — approved by voice vote. - Adjournment: motion to adjourn approved by voice vote.
The meeting also included approval of an updated policy and procedure manual intended to guide office practices for assessing values; the chair said the manual was prepared in advance and that Ms. Buchanan contributed substantially. With no further business the board adjourned. The assessor’s office will follow up on the freeport exemption documentation and the flagged account to finalize assessment notices.
